Iolite (Greek word for violet) is the name used for the gemstone that come from Cordierate, mineral first identified by French geologist Louis Cordier in 1813. Although the mineral was only identified about 200 years ago, this gem has been used for many centuries by the Greeks and Vikings as a compass. Iolites have the ability to show the exact direction of the sun even on very cloudy and foggy days due to its strong pleochroism (Double refraction of light by a mineral. Light of different polarizations is bent on different amounts, and therefore follows different paths through the crystal). Gem quality Iolite varies in color from sapphire blue to blue violet to yellowish gray to light blue as the light angle changes. They can show 3 different color tones at the same time.

GemsFeed recommends Iolites for gem collectors who wish to add something different in their collection. We only offer Iolites that have a strong pleochronism and a good color changing from blue to violet and gray. This gemstone has also a strong hardness of 7.5 so it is ideal for setting in a jewelry as a substitute of Sapphire or Tanzanite.