Sodalite: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Sodalite is one of the most striking natural stones in jewellery. The deep blue mineral with white veins or cloudy inclusions impresses with its intense colour effect, calm depth and modern look. Whether in strong royal blue, dark blue or soft marbled variants: Sodalite lends pieces of jewellery a clear, elegant and expressive touch. Mineralogically, sodalite belongs to the feldspathoids and is a sodium aluminium silicate containing chloride.

In this guide you will learn what characterises sodalite, how genuine sodalite can be recognised, how to care for sodalite jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with sodalite are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: Symbolic and spiritual meanings of the sodalite come from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Sodalite is a feldspathoid, not a quartz.
• It is a sodium aluminium silicate containing chloride.
• With a hardness of about 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale sodalite is well suited for jewellery, but somewhat more sensitive than quartz stones.
• Typical are intense blue tones with white veins, spots or cloudy areas.
• Sodalite is often found in nepheline syenitic and other low-silica magmatic rocks.

Sodalite is a favourite because of its intense blue colour effect and its striking natural pattern is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the birthstone collection.

Sodalite is a feldspathoid mineral and belongs to a mineral group that is chemically and structurally similar to feldspar, but less silicon dioxide than feldspars. Sodalite is characterised by its mostly blue to blue-violet colourswhich are often accompanied by white calcite inclusions or light-coloured areas. It is precisely this combination that makes the stone so striking and easily recognisable in jewellery.

Sodalite is typically formed in silica-poor, alkaline magmatic rocks like nepheline syenite, Trachyte or phonolite. The material used in jewellery is usually compact and easy to polish, with a rich colour and harmonious pattern. Due to its dense structure, sodalite is particularly suitable for jewellery. pearls, cabochons, pendants and smooth polished stone elements.

Sodalite is best known in strong blue to dark blue-violet. The stones often show white veins, cloudy patterns or light-coloured inclusions, which give the material a lively, natural look. Pieces with intense blue colour and beautiful, well-balanced markings.

Less frequently grey, greenish, yellowish or less colourful variants. Furthermore hackmanite is a variety from the sodalite family that is known for its photochromic effects. However, deep blue sodalite clearly dominates the classic jewellery sector.

Although blue gemstones have been valued since ancient times sodalite became popular as an independent decorative and ornamental stone, especially from the 19th century - parallel to large finds in North America and Europe. Its calm, clear blue colour went perfectly with arts-and-crafts- and later modernist design ideas: polished panels, inlays, vases and cabochons for rings, pendants and ear jewellery.
Culturally, sodalite stands for sobriety and beauty of simplicity - an antithesis to opulent, highly sparkling gemstones. In collectors' circles, deposits from Canada, Brazil, Italy, or Greenland are known sources of decorative and ornamental sodalite.

The characteristic colour of the sodalite is related to its chemical composition and structure as a chloride-containing sodium aluminium silicate. As a feldspathoid, sodalite has a framework of aluminium and silicon tetrahedra with additional anions in its structure. This distinguishes it mineralogically from quartz and many other gemstones.

Its often visible white veins or spots in many gemstones come from accompanying minerals or light-coloured areas in the rock formation. It is precisely this natural mixture of deep blue and bright contrasts that makes sodalite so unmistakable in jewellery.

You should pay attention to this:

• Natural pattern: Irregular white veins/spots (calcite) in blue matrix - not a "perfectly homogeneous" colour.

• Surface & feel: glassy lustre, rather "stony" feel (no plastic look).

• Declaration: Origin and Treatments open (sodalite is coloured less frequently than other blue stones, for example, colourings do occur – partly to imitate lapis).

• Certificates: For high-quality jewellery good proof of origin or gemmological certificates are a plus.

• Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, soft brush; then rinse and gently dry.

• Not recommended: ultrasonic or steam cleaner, aggressive chemicals/cleaners.

• Protection: because of hardness 5.5-6 and granular structure, avoid impacts and scratches; remove jewellery for sport, housework/gardening.

• Storage: each piece separate, softly padded (cloth bag/case).

• Light/Hackmanite: for tenebrescent pieces, avoid long, intense sunlight if the UV-induced colour shade is to be retained.