 |
Diana Bostany
~ designer beaded jewelry and gifts ~ home | necklaces | earrings | bracelets | sets | new | ordering | contact | message board |
|
|
Diana Bostany
~ designer beaded jewelry and gifts ~ home | necklaces | earrings | bracelets | sets | new | ordering | contact | message board |
|
|
Iolite is a naturally occuring gemstone with a special characteristic known as pleochroism - different colors can be seen from different directions within the crystal. A cube cut from iolite can look almost like sapphire from one side, clear as water from the other, and yellow from the top.
Viking mariners used thin slices of Iolite as the world's first polarising filter. While looking through it, they were able to determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate their way safely to the New World and back. Today Iolite is readily available and very affordable. When shopping for Iolite, the richer the blue, the better. It is mined in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Brazil. |
| back to the picture index | jade beaded jewelry |
about | bridal | briolettes | extenders | gifts | jewelry care | site index | stores |