Loose Iolite Gemstones from AfricaGems
Iolite is a very affordable gemstone and larger sizes are much less expensive than tanzanite which it is often substituted for. Few gemstones express violet's ethereal beauty like the gemstone called Iolite. Iolite stones watery purplish blue color will offer the wearer an escape to tranquility and an uplifting gemstone experience. It is a gemstone for all seasons.
Gemstone Properties of the Iolite Gemstone
Similar to tanzanite, in that it has a strong property called pleochroism, Iolite must be carefully orientated and faceted so that the purple blue color will show when the real Iolite stone is oriented face up. A genuine Iolite gemstone, if cut and polished in a perfect cube, will be clear on one side, a golden yellow on another and the sought after purplish blue color on the other side. Iolite has a Mohs hardness of 7.0-7.5, similar to quartz and is quite durable and suitable for jewelry wearing purposes.
Genuine Iolite History & Lore
Iolite gemstones have been known for many years; in fact back in ancient times it was used for a variety of reasons. It is said that the Vikings used thin slices of Iolite stone to help guide them on their ocean voyages. The Vikings would gaze through the thin disk of Iolite and were able to tell by its shifting color the exact position of the sun.
Iolite is a Natural Gemstone
Iolite gems are natural gemstones. Iolite does not need to be subjected to treatments to improve their appearance. Genuine Iolite is sourced from many countries such as Madagascar, Tanzania, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Namibia. The largest source for Iolite today is by far India.
Standard Size Loose Iolite Gemstones for SALE - Calibrated Shapes & Sizes of Discount Iolite for Jewelry
Iolite gemstones are a beautiful watery violet color, with the name coming from the Greek word Ios, meaning violet. Iolite gemstones display a unique pleochroic property, which means that when you rotate the stone and observe the different angles and facets you can see three distinctly different colors in the three crystal directions. Some refer to this gem as water sapphire since it displays a bluish violet color in one direction and a pale yellow to colorless hue in the other. Top quality Iolite gemstones are a great, more affordable alternative to Tanzanite gemstones. In fact, the first Tanzanite gemstones were mistakenly thought to be Iolite. The lovely Iolite color is totally natural, these gems are completely untreated. AfricaGems is the number one trusted source for standard gems. Every gem comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and we only deal with the highest quality. With free shipping and a generous return policy, AfricaGems enables you to shop comfortably for loose gemstones!
How Much Do You Know About Iolite Gems?
More Information About Iolite Gem Stones from The GIA Gem Encyclopedia
More Information About Iolite Gem Stones from Wikipedia