For your gem needs see our Recommended Suppliers. To my mind, peridot is an under appreciated gemstone. Perhaps this has become the case due to the public's familiarity with low quality, olivey material which is inadequately cut and polished.
Peridot belongs to the forsterite-fayalite mineral series which is part of the olivine group.
Historically important sources in Egypt have been superceded by today's main sources in Arizona and Pakistan. The vast majority of peridot rough produces sub-carat sized stones which in commercial quality are quite inexpensive. Text and photos courtesy of Barbara Smigel at Artistic Colored Stones.