Iolite 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads 20210930-1007 Star Cut & Double Hearted Lapis was ground and processed

Lapis was ground and processed to make the pigment ultramarine for use in frescoes and oil painting

The addition of the rhodium plating not only protects these from oxidation but also highlights the Widmanstätten pattern

but differ in chemical composition

Stabilized turquoise is the contemporary version of waxing

prized throughout history for its beautiful colors and patterns

Iolite 8mm Round - Large Hole Beads 20210930-1007 Star Cut & Double Hearted Lapis was ground and processedIolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue to gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called pleochroism, which means that it can appear to be different colors as it shifts in the light. According to Norse legend, Viking explorers used thin pieces of Iolite as the worlds first polarizing lens to help them determine the exact location of the sun for navigation.