Editor’s Note: Some years ago, the International Gem Society (IGS) conducted a survey of members’ polishing techniques. Here, you’ll find the results for peridot polishing. Whether you’re just starting to learn the art of gem cutting or just looking for a new way to tackle a problematic gem material, we hope these results provide some useful suggestions.
Peridot varieties can vary in hardness. If you’re polishing forsterite (7), consult the survey results for polishing gems with 7-8 hardness. For fayalite (6.5) and tephroite (6), take a look at the results for polishing gems with 4-6 hardness.
For more information about the survey or to find results for more gemstones, click here.
Peridot Polishing Techniques
Laptype | Polish | Lubrication | Votes |
Tin | Linde A |
water | 20 |
Tin | 50-100k diamond | oil or water | 10 |
Ultra Lap | Aluminum Oxide | water | 6 |
BATT | Linde A/Cerium | water | 5 |
Last Lap | 50k diamond | vinegar/water | 3 |
Lucite | 50-100k diamond | DiaLube or water | 3 |
BATT | 50-100k diamond | oil | 3 |
Ceramic | 100-200k diamond | none | 3 |
Ceramic | 50k diamond | oil | 3 |
Lucite | Cerium Oxide | water | 2 |
Copper |
Diamond paste | Crystalube | 2 |
Zinc | 50k diamond | oil | 2 |
Last Lap | Aluminum Oxide | water | 2 |
Magic Wax | Linde |
…