About this Product
Rich violet/blue natural Iolite (1.60tcw,VS,Ceylon) & natural Raspberry Rhodolite Garnet (1ctw, VS, Africa) hand set in 925 sterling silver. A beautiful combination deep violet blue, and raspberry in these lovely drop earrings. Sheppard hooks style.
Iolite is the gem-quality blue or blue-violet variety of cordierite. While iolite enjoyed popularity in jewelry in 18th-century Europe, this naturally beautiful gemstone is relatively new to the jewelry market and is regaining popularity with the public. Because of its hardness and pleochroism, iolite is one of the most difficult stones to cut. It must be cut in a certain direction to take advantage of the best color, which can be tough when the shape of the rough doesn't lend itself to cutting in that same direction.
The name "iolite" is derived from the Greek word ios, meaning "violet," as well as dichroite, Greek for "two-colored rock" and the root of the word dichroic, meaning a gem that displays two colors. Yet another name sometimes used to refer to iolite is its species name, cordierite, which was officially named in 1813 after French geologist Pierre L. A. Cordier, the man who first described it in 1809. Iolite had been discovered and used in jewelry in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) long before that, however.
In rare cases, some iolite gems can display one of three optical properties known as phenomenon: a star (asterism) or a cat's-eye effect (chatoyancy) when cut en cabochon, or aventurescence, which is a glittering effect caused by light reflections playing off of small plate-like inclusions in the stone. The inclusions can be a variety of materials; "bloodshot iolite" is a trade name given to aventurescent iolite that contains tiny hematite inclusions.
If you love Tanzanite but not the price. Try Iolite!
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Ilex Unica Designs
Meet the Maker
I have been a small organic farmer here in Pennsylvania for over 40 yrs, raising sheep, poultry, honey bees, and organic fruits and veggies. I have worked & studied gemstones & jewelry design, as well as being a master chef owning my own restaurant. I was raised learning the "old ways" of making daily living items from my Grandmother using what we grew.
How it’s Made
I hand make all my jewelry with precious metals and natural gemstones
Shop Policies
Returns: I must be contacted with 24hrs of receipts of delivery, a return agreement issued, items must be return in original unused condition. Buyer pays return shipping.
