Olivine is known by many names. Besides its actual mineral names, forsterite and fayalite, it is known as "chrysolite", "evening emerald" and olivine.

The term chrysolite is an old German name that was applied to gemmy olivine, but now is only sometimes used to refer to light yellowish green discount olivine.

Evening emerald is a name given to cheap olivine's gemstone variety, handmade olivine, by some jewelers in some attempt to increase the apparent value of the stones.

China Olivine's gemstone variety is known as olivine. Fashion Olivine is the birthstone of August and is usually a very affordable colored gemstone.

Olivine has its own unique green-yellow color that is different from emerald. The best colored olivine has an iron percentage less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements that may also contribute to the best olivine color. Olivine is a colorful, affordable and attractive gemstone.

Physical characteristics:
Color is a light near emerald green to the more common pale yellowish green; also found colorless, greenish brown to black. A near colorless specimen is likely nearly pure forsterite, while a greenish-brown to black specimen may approach pure fayalite in composition.  Anything in-between is olivine.

Olivine has also been called "peridot" which ranges in color from a yellowish green to pure green to a nearly olive green color.

The finest olivine, the Egyptian material, has a minimum of yellow in it and is a bright clear green. Unfortunately the Egyptian material is no longer mined and not readily available on the market.

You can find fine Burmese olivine, which is fairly rare, in sizes over ten carats, with a fairly dark clear green color with only a hint of yellow.

Norwegian olivine is yellowish green but it is much softer in color than the other sources.

Arizona material is readily available in sizes under five carats and is characteristically a bright yellowish green. It is mined on a Reservation by the San Carlos Indians.

Olivine is a fragile stone; it is brittle and will abrade easily around facet junctions. It should be set into protective mounting. Never put olivine in an ultrasonic cleaner: it may not break but the internal fracture may be massive.