Five-Stone Iolite Ring
Five-Stone Iolite Ring
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Iolite doesn't do one colour. Tilt your hand and it moves: violet, blue, a flash of grey.
Five of them, and none of them agree.
What this ring is
The Five-Stone Iolite Ring from House Of 18th Jewellery sets five round faceted iolites, between 1.5mm and 2mm, in small crown-shaped collets across the top of a slim textured band of 925 sterling silver plated in 18ct gold. The stones vary in size and sit at uneven intervals rather than in a straight row. House Of 18th Jewellery supplies this ring in EU size 56 (17.8mm inner diameter) as a single piece.
What is iolite?
Iolite is the gem-quality form of the mineral cordierite, and it rates 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Iolite is strongly pleochroic: the same crystal shows violet-blue from one direction, pale grey-blue from another and yellowish-grey from a third. Iolite is sometimes sold as water sapphire, and it is almost never treated, so its colour is the colour the stone formed with.
Why five small stones instead of one big one
Pleochroism shows best when light hits a stone from several angles at once. One large iolite gives you one colour at a time. Five small iolites, each sitting at a slightly different angle on the band, show violet, blue and grey side by side, so the ring changes every time your hand moves. House Of 18th Jewellery chose this layout because iolite is wasted on a stone that sits still.
How to care for iolite and gold plating
Iolite rates 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, so the stones handle daily wear well, but iolite can split along one direction if it takes a hard knock. Take the ring off for sport, gardening and heavy work. Remove it before washing up, swimming, showering or putting on hand cream, because water, chemicals and friction wear 18ct gold plating fastest on a ring. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner. Wipe the ring with a soft dry cloth and store it on its own in a closed pouch.
Specifications
| Metal | 925 sterling silver |
| Finish | 18ct gold-plated |
| Stones | Five iolites, round faceted, 1.5mm to 2mm |
| Ring size | EU 56 (17.8mm inner diameter) |
| Band | Slim, textured |
| Setting | Crown-shaped collets, uneven spacing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iolite a natural stone? Iolite is a natural gemstone, the gem-quality form of the mineral cordierite, and iolite is almost never heated, dyed or otherwise treated.
Why does iolite change colour? Iolite is pleochroic, meaning the crystal absorbs light differently along different directions, so the same stone looks violet-blue, grey-blue or yellowish-grey depending on the viewing angle.
What does 18ct gold-plated mean? 18ct gold-plated means a layer of 18-carat gold (75% pure gold) is bonded over 925 sterling silver. "18ct" describes the purity of the gold plating, not the carat weight of the stones.
How durable is this ring for daily wear? Iolite rates 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, so the five stones resist everyday scratches, and the gold plating is the part that wears first on a ring.
Can this ring be stacked with other rings? The slim band stacks well with other House Of 18th Jewellery rings, though the raised collets sit proud of the band, so it stacks best next to a plain band.