Handmade Iolite Jewelry

How did the Vikings navigate their way safely to the New World and back?

Iolite, once called a “water sapphire,” has a strong pleochroism ability meaning that from one direction iolite can appear blue violet and from another direction it can appear clear as water. The name iolite originates from the Greek word ‘ios’ meaning 'violet’. “Dichroite” is another synonym for iolite in reference to its pleochroic properties. “Dichroite” is a Greek word, which broadly translates as “two-colored rock.” Iolite is also known as “the Viking stone” because according to Norse legend, Vikings used iolite as a thin polarizing lens to help them find the exact position of the sun. The Vikings probably discovered and mined their iolite deposits in Norway and Greenland.

Shop our collection of iolite jewelry at http://shopbejeweled.com/collections/iolite-jewelry.