🌌 Collector's Piece: 0.82ct Marquise Cut Iolite
This $0.82\text{ct}$ Iolite is a refined and highly desirable collector's gemstone, showcasing the beautiful deep color and complex optical properties for which Iolite is prized.
✨ The Marquise Cut
The stone is masterfully cut into a Marquise Shape, also known as the Navette (French for "little boat"). This elongated, elliptical shape with two pointed ends is renowned for:
Maximizing Visual Size: The cut's shape and broad surface area make the 1$0.82\text{ct}$ gem appear significantly larger than its carat weight, offering great visual impact.2
Elegance and Elongation: It provides a sophisticated silhouette, and when set in jewelry, it has a flattering effect, making the finger appear longer and more slender.3
💜 The Power of Iolite's Pleochroism
Iolite is the gem-quality variety of the mineral cordierite and is famously known as the "Viking's Compass" due to its rich history as a navigational aid.4 Its defining feature is:
Strong Pleochroism: A phenomenon where the gem appears to be a different color when viewed from different angles.5 This specific Iolite will shift between its signature deep violet-blue and lighter hues—sometimes even appearing faintly yellow or gray—as the angle of light or observation changes.6
Collector Quality: A well-cut Iolite is defined by how the lapidary expertly oriented the rough material to position the most attractive blue-violet color face-up, while still demonstrating the intriguing color-shift property that makes it unique.
Summary
This $0.82\text{ct}$ Marquise Cut Iolite is an excellent addition to any collection, valued for the precision of its cut, its flawless symmetry, and its mesmerizing pleochroism that captures the stormy, enigmatic color of the deep ocean.