The actual word of iolite originates from the Ancient greek ios, meaning purple. Iolite colors are usually blue, purple or sometimes brown. The very best color of the gems is beautiful purple-blue crystal. Iolite offers various colors in one stone. Pleochroism (ability of gems to display more than one color) can be found in Iolite and is also known as three different color shades within the same stone. According to the viewing angle, the gemstone will display violet blue, yellow gray or possibly a light blue.

Iolite has harness around 7 - 7,5 in mohs scale. But the color and luster are very beautiful like a Sapphire Corundum. Because of that, This bluish purple gems is often called as "water Sapphire".  Iolite deposits are merely in India, Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, USA, and Canada.