TheDiamondangel
Shiny_Rock
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Durability question...Iolite
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TheDiamondangel
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2003
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Hate it when I partially answer my own question! I found this info, but it doesn't say anything about its place on the hardness scale.
"Iolite
Iolite - Gem of the Vikings. When legendary Viking explorers ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, far away from any coastline, they had a secret gem weapon: iolite. The Viking mariners used thin pieces of iolite as the world's first polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate safely to the new world and back.
The property that made iolite so valuable to the Vikings is extreme pleochroism. Iolite has different colors in different directions in the crystal. A cube cut from iolite will look a violetish blue almost like sapphire from one side, clear as water from the other, and a honey yellow from the top. This property led some people to call iolite "water sapphire" in the past, a name that is now obsolete.
Pleochroism may have been helpful in navigation but it makes things difficult for a gem cutter. If iolite is not cut from exactly the right direction, no matter the shape of the rough, its color will not show to its best advantage.
The name iolite comes from the Greek ios, which means violet. Iolite is usually a purplish blue when cut properly, with a softness to the color that can be quite attractive.
Iolite is readily available and surprisingly affordable. The better and richer the blue, the better. It is mined in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Brazil. The Vikings probably mined iolite from deposits in Norway and Greenland.
Iolite is relatively hard but should be protected from blows. With its attractive color and reasonable price, it may become a jewelry staple in the future. "
"Iolite
Iolite - Gem of the Vikings. When legendary Viking explorers ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, far away from any coastline, they had a secret gem weapon: iolite. The Viking mariners used thin pieces of iolite as the world's first polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate safely to the new world and back.
The property that made iolite so valuable to the Vikings is extreme pleochroism. Iolite has different colors in different directions in the crystal. A cube cut from iolite will look a violetish blue almost like sapphire from one side, clear as water from the other, and a honey yellow from the top. This property led some people to call iolite "water sapphire" in the past, a name that is now obsolete.
Pleochroism may have been helpful in navigation but it makes things difficult for a gem cutter. If iolite is not cut from exactly the right direction, no matter the shape of the rough, its color will not show to its best advantage.
The name iolite comes from the Greek ios, which means violet. Iolite is usually a purplish blue when cut properly, with a softness to the color that can be quite attractive.
Iolite is readily available and surprisingly affordable. The better and richer the blue, the better. It is mined in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Brazil. The Vikings probably mined iolite from deposits in Norway and Greenland.
Iolite is relatively hard but should be protected from blows. With its attractive color and reasonable price, it may become a jewelry staple in the future. "
diamondlil
Ideal_Rock
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- Jun 8, 2003
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Diamondangel,
I thought you had already decided on a setting for that pear. I am soooooo looking forward to seeing it set. I've seen a lot of iolite, and although I don't know anything about its hardness, I'm not crazy for the color (love my tanzanite though). That pear definitely deserves spectacular side stones . . . just my opinion.
Diamondlil
I thought you had already decided on a setting for that pear. I am soooooo looking forward to seeing it set. I've seen a lot of iolite, and although I don't know anything about its hardness, I'm not crazy for the color (love my tanzanite though). That pear definitely deserves spectacular side stones . . . just my opinion.
Diamondlil
TheDiamondangel
Shiny_Rock
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mike04456
Brilliant_Rock
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- Nov 20, 2002
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Iolite has good hardness but only fair toughness. This is because its crystal structure has a distinct cleavage in one direction, which makes it vulnerable to breakage. I would make sure they are set properly--bezel or flush is best, prongs are out.
I like iolite. It's a neat stone with a distinctive appearance, so you will get some interesting comments.
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