An eye-shaped, finely detailed silver-plated pendant with an iolite at its centre. It comes on a 45 cm black cord, so you can wear it straight away. The whole necklace weighs about 9 g and was made in India.
Iolite at the centre of the eye
Iolite takes its name from the Greek ion, meaning violet, and its colour is indeed a blue-violet. On this pendant it forms the centre of the eye, surrounded by finely detailed silver work.
The stone has an unusual trait: it looks a different colour from different angles. Turn the pendant, and the stone seems bluer one moment, greyer and paler the next. It is a hard stone that stands up well to everyday wear.
The eye as a sign of protection
Many cultures use the eye as a protective sign. In ancient Egypt people wore the Eye of Horus as an amulet, and around the Mediterranean a blue glass eye still hangs above many doors. It was believed to turn back the evil eye. In Turkey it is called a nazar.
That is why people like to give one to a friend setting off on a journey or a young person facing exams. The black cord and silver eye go well with jeans, a linen shirt or a summer dress.
On the 45 cm cord the pendant hangs just below the collarbone, so the eye sits on the smooth spot below the neck where it shows well. If the cord wears out over time, you can thread the pendant onto a new one.
Keeping it silvery
The pendant is silver-plated, and the thin silver layer can darken with water and cosmetics. Put it aside before you go swimming or hiking. A soft, dry cloth brings back the shine; avoid strong cleaners.