Iolite is an affordable alternative for more expensive blue sapphire or violet blue tanzanite. The stone in the photo at the top of this page might be seen in exclusive jewelry stores or in showings of designer or custom jewelry items. For men iolite is an excellent royal gem which is perfect for men s fashion and gemstone jewelry accessories including cufflinks iolite rings and tie tacks. Pieces of iolite are often considered imperfect because of inclusions. This grade of tanzanite is often seen in mall and chain store jewelry.
Blue sapphire tanzanite etc. Iolite is a blue pleochroic gem that has an appearance similar to sapphire and tanzanite. It can serve as an alternative stone to either of these gems and is much lower in price. Tanzanite should be quite a bit heavier than iolite i think the relevant values are 3 15 to 3 38 for tanzanite compared to 2 57 to 2 61 for iolite so should be pretty easy to tell apart if you can rig up your scales. Gem quality a sapphire blue in color to a bluish violet color to yellow gray in color depending on refraction of light it is found in burma and sri lanka.
Unlike sapphire and tanzanite iolite in the gem market is not known to receive heat irradiation or other treatments to improve its color. It is known as iolite in the gem and jewelry industry. Iolite is an excellent gemstone for pendants pins brooches necklaces and bracelets. They will appear clear or even yellowish from angles other than the top. A violet blue tanzanite measuring 7 x 5 x 3 millimeters in size and weighing 1 02 carats antique facet cut.
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Iolite is a mineral sometimes used as a gemstone. It should show the same intensity of color from the side as it does from the top. Iolite falls at 7 to 7 5 on the mohs hardness scale but given that it has distinct cleavage in one direction its toughness is only fair. It s has a lighter and less vivid violet color which shifts to almost colorless when viewed from the side. Iolite is much more affordable and can be a great substitute if you are looking for a gemstone that has a blue similar to tanzanite s beautiful blue but on a budget.Iolite is a very inexpensive gem with a rather small market demand most people probably don t know what it is. This is required because tanzanite does not typically have flaws that can be seen with the naked eye. Iolite is occasionally wrongly labelled as tanzanite however tanzanite is a softer stone. It its top colors it resembles a fine blue sapphire. Unlike tanzanite iolite is rarely treated.
This makes iolite vulnerable to breakage when set in a ring or other setting exposed to rough daily wear. Imitations like iolite do not. Tanzanite is far more rare and has a large market demand with strong public recognition. Examine the stone thorough a 10x jeweler s loupe. Fine iolite comes by its beautiful blues and violets naturally.
A wise lapidary generally keeps the optic axis direction yellow shade of iolite either at the girdle or at the culet in facetted cut stones. A wise lapidary generally keeps the optic axis direction yellow shade of iolite either at the girdle or at the culet in facetted cut stones. This makes iolite vulnerable to breakage when set in a ring or other setting exposed to rough daily wear. Iolite is a very inexpensive gem with a rather small market demand most people probably don t know what it is. Iolite is a mineral sometimes used as a gemstone.
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Fine iolite comes by its beautiful blues and violets naturally. Unlike sapphire and tanzanite iolite in the gem market is not known to receive heat irradiation or other treatments to improve its color. Blue sapphire tanzanite etc. Iolite is an affordable alternative for more expensive blue sapphire or violet blue tanzanite.
