Iolite’s strong pleochroism makes the gem tricky to cut for best color. This in turn continues to pose challenges to producers and buyers interested in promoting the attractive yet problematic gem to retailers as an affordable blue-gem alternative.

Iolite falls at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, but given that it has distinct cleavage in one direction, its toughness is only fair. This makes iolite vulnerable to breakage when set in a ring or other setting exposed to rough daily wear.

Unlike tanzanite, iolite is rarely treated. Fine iolite comes by its beautiful blues and violets naturally. Its freedom from enhancement other than normal cutting and polishing is a selling point when customers consider that most blue gems, from inexpensive blue topaz to fine sapphire, receive routine treatment of one type or another.

Shipping policy and disclaimer

All items are dispatched on Mondays. Therefore, we kindly request you to complete the checkout of your cart by Sunday morning to allow us sufficient time to prepare shipments. For those who have not made at least 3 purchases from us, please make payment for the awarded items within 24 hours. Customers with 100% positive feedback and a history of previous purchases may have extended payment time for their cart and enjoy savings on shipping costs. However, it is requested to inform us in advance. Customers with items in their cart who do not proceed to

checkout within the specified timeframe will be notified once. Subsequently, the cart will be canceled, and the possibility of placing new bids will be restricted.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding regarding our shipping policies. Your support is invaluable to us, and we look forward to serving you with the utmost care and attention.

If you have any questions or special requests, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for being a valued member of the Gemrock community!

Please note that gemstone pictures are captured under various light conditions to showcase their unique characteristics. We advise customers to consider the potential variations in color and appearance based on different lighting setups. Each gemstone is sold 'as is,' and we recommend keeping this in mind while making a purchase. If you have any specific questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our customer support for further assistance.