IOLITE. ...

Description

IOLITE
Tanzania
Iolite has been highly prized for centuries - Viking explorers used thin pieces of Iolite as polarizing filters to determine the exact position of the Sun when navigating the seas. Iolite is pleocroic - it reveals different colors when the crystal is viewed from different directions. This property may have been helpful in navigation but makes faceting Iolite difficult as it must be oriented in exactly the right direction before cutting, for the gemstone to appear at its best. This oval gemstone with a pineapple crown has good brilliance and is well cut. It is fairly large for an Iolite with light, even blue-violet color and a number of veil type inclusions. It measures 20.5 x 14.4 mm, weighs 14.09 carats and is in very fine condition.

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