Iolite is sometimes also referred to as ‘dichroite', and it is a clear violet-blue gem that has surfaced in the market in the last years. Most iolite comes from Sri Lanka , Tanzania , India and Brazil . For the past decade or so it has also been found in Burma , Madagascar , Namibia and Zimbabwe . Until 1980 it was only a collector's item because of its unavailability. It is often misrepresented as a “water sapphire” because it resembles a sapphire face-up and it looks watery and clear from the side view. It is also called a “lynx sapphire” because of its beautiful range of colors. Found in shades of blue ranging from pale yellowish grey, through all the various shades of blue and finally to deep, clear blues, this is a hardy material rated 7 on the Moh scale. It's an attractive gem with great brilliance and doesn't cost very much per carat weight, so it a good gem to consider. You can find high-quality iolite for $50-$300 per carat for anything smaller than 5 carats and about $150-$380 per carat for 5-10 carat gems. It should be cleaned in warm, soapy water and not exposed to ultrasonic cleaning detergents.