This blue-violet stone, aptly named given its derivation from the Greek for violet (ios), has an interesting story.
Before it’s official discovery in 1813, it had an important use as a “sunstone” by the Vikings. Given the stone’s ability to polarise sunlight, they could locate the location of the sun even when the sky was heavily overcast through slices of this stone. It is for this reason that Iolite is also known as the “Viking’s Compass.” Given it’s popularity among medieval Scandinavian sea farers, it was primarily found in Greenland but today it can be found all over the world, from Brazil to India and Myanmar.
Esme earrings in Iolite
Amelie Earrings Iolite and Labradorite
Before the 1980’s this stone was rarely found commercially but in the past few decades and particularly these past few years it has grown in popularity and in fashion. It is often referred to as a “Water Sapphire” despite having no link to that precious stone. Indeed it does share the sapphire’s complexity and beauty without the substantial cost.
Jasmine Earrings Iolite with Amethyst
Talitha Earrings Iolite with Honey Sapphire
