Iolite Gem Stone
Iolite is basically an aluminium magnesium silicate that naturally occurs in a very transparent form. It is also exceptionally clean and has a moderate to high brilliance. Its hue ranges from deep blue to light grayish blue to yellowish gray. The blue shade sometimes becomes so spectrally pure that it is called a water sapphire or lynx sapphire.
Then what is it that makes this stone less valuable (in terms of quality) than a sapphire? It’s the durability – iolite is much softer than the sapphire. That means it can make beautiful earrings, brooches and pendants, but not rings and bracelets. The best sources of this stone are Finland, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Madagascar.
The price and market for this stone is a complex issue. Pricing in gems is itself a very complex issue. A gem does not gain in demand and price if it’s either too abundant or too rare. It should have been around for a while, and people must have identified it as a symbol of class and status. Emeralds and sapphires have been in our culture for quite long, so the rarity of fine quality sapphires makes them so much more expensive.
But if a relatively new stone such as diopside, is very rare, then it is really difficult for it to even find it’s way into jewelry stores, let along command a good price. Iolite, unlike the previous two cases, is abundant and not in demand, so it’s real damn cheap. We are just beginning to witness the entry of this stone into the colored stones arena. So if you want a really beautiful and durable gem for an inexpensive price, then this is your best buy. It’s one of the most exciting options available today in the industry, and it will surely find its niche in the market in a matter of years.
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