Iolite Gemstone is one of the semi-precious gemstones which display different colours depending on orientation to the light. Its two dominant colours are violet and blue, so that in certain lights it can seem an Amethyst, while in a different orientation it could be Sapphire-like. It was, indeed, often called “Water Sapphire”.
The term Iolite comes from the Greek word for violet. The gemstone was first classified as a mineral in its own right in the mid-1800s, unearthed in Spain by one M.Cordier, a French geologist, and named Cordierite after he who first recognised its uniqueness. But it is a pretty gemstone when polished and the name Iolite was coined for it as a merchandising tool.
The 9ct Gold pendant setting is solid, not plated. Created and crafted in Sydney, the Iolite Gemstone professionally set in Sydney by a master gemstone setter. Pendant design is simple and straight-forward, a setting edge raised a little inside a frame, well-crafted and strong. In fact, the basic design of this pendant has been around for a very long time, from the ancient Etruscan period and before.
Note: the 9ct Gold chain shown in the images, machine-made Italian, slim cable chain 1mm thickness, 45cms length and 2.8grams in weight, will add, as of March 2025, $270 to the cost of the pendant. (The $270 chain price is for the chain purchased with the pendant; normal retail price for this chain is $375.)