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Shown above is a suite of faceted peridot gemstones cut from San Carlos material. These stones range in size from 1.93 to 7.3 carats. Less than one percent of the peridot from this locality is suitable for faceting. It is extremely rare to find a flawless San Carlos peridot that weighs more than 1 carat, and equally rare to find a gem of reasonable clarity that weighs more than 5 carats. The gemstones shown above range from VVS to SI2 in clarity (Consult our clarity grading page for an explanation of the GIA clarity grading system). Perhaps more important than clarity, when judging a gemstone's beauty, is color. San Carlos peridot comes in a range of colors; from bright yellowish-green (the center stones above) to dark sligthly grayish greens (the large oval) to material that is almost black (Not shown). Although the light yellowish-green stones command the highest prices, the darker colors are also attractive and work well in men's rings, or jewelry designs where more subtle colors are desired (e.g. a pendant for that teenage daughter who likes to wear black lipstick and brown nailpolish).
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