blue · gemstone
Iolite
- Birthstone
- ·
- Hardness
- Mohs 7-7.5
- Colour
- blue
Iolite is sometimes used as an inexpensive substitute for sapphire. According to legends, ancient Viking navigators used thin slices of iolite as filters to help locate the sun on cloudy days. Whether or not the tales are true, iolite (mineralogists call it cordierite) can be fashioned into beautiful gems.
Enter the Stone Room · Iolite, staged →Created with Iolite
The full catalogue →Iolite’s creations are being catalogued.
Laura is confirming the stone set in each piece — the moment she does, every Iolite creation appears right here.
Iolite, the story
Strongly pleochroic iolite has been incorrectly called “water sapphire,” as it can display a blue to violet hue in one direction and pale yellow to colourless in another.