Thank you. So glad you enjoyed. It is a lovely stone and a great addition to any collection.
Lapis Lazuli: A Vivid Blue More Precious Than Gold.
Written by Jane on Aug. 08, 2022 | 4 Comments
Lapis lazuli is a striking vivid blue gemstone that has been used in the decorative arts and jewelry for thousands of years. Prized by ancient Egyptian pharaohs, mentioned in the Bible and coveted as a rare pigment worth more than gold by Renaissance painters, lapis lazuli is still popular to this day.
If you are thinking of adding a piece of lapis lazuli jewelry to your collection, you may be interested to find out more before purchasing. Below is our guide to lapis lazuli, where you will learn:
- What is lapis lazuli?
- How is lapis lazuli used?
- Why choose lapis lazuli jewelry?
- How to care for lapis lazuli jewelry?
1. What is lapis lazuli?
Lapis lazuli is a precious gemstone with a rich and varied deep blue color that seems to have come from the heavens. This is reflected in its name - lapis is Latin for "stone" and lazuli comes from “lājevard” the Persian word for sky or heavens - so quite literally a sky stone!
Lapiz Lazuli embedded in rock
Photo Credit: Geert Pieters on Unsplash
But rather than dropping from the heavens, lapis lazuli is found here on earth in a few ruggedly mountainous places. The main source is in the mountains of Afghanistan, with sites in Chile and Russia discovered in the 19th century, and smaller sources in Argentina, Pakistan, Canada, Italy, India, and the USA.
Crystals of lazurite, the main mineral in lapis lazuli, from Afghanistan where it has been mined since the 7th Millennium BC
Photo Credit: Didier Descouens - Own work
Different to many other gemstones that are composed of just one mineral, lapis lazuli is actually varying amounts of three minerals, lazurite (blue), calcite (white or clear), and pyrite (gold). The most valuable pieces of lapis lazuli are almost entirely lazurite, with or without flecks or veins of glinting yellow pyrite, allowing that rich deep blue to shine.
2. How is lapis lazuli used?
Believed to foster wisdom, healing and inner calm, lapis lazuli is also relatively durable, especially when polished, making it perfect for use in jewelry, art and ornamentation.
And given this heavenly beauty, durability and versatility, lapis lazuli has unsurprisingly been used in art and jewelry for thousands of years.
It was found on the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun, a headdress for a Sumerian queen, and was famously reported to be ground up for Cleopatra's eyeshadow! In the Renaissance, this ground form was highly prized as a blue pigment for paint. Known as ultramarine, this paint was worth even more than gold.
Given its rarity and rich color, ultramarine was an extravagant display of wealth, denoting a highly prized and valuable painting. It was often used to paint the mantle of the Virgin Mary, strengthening the association with the heavens. Vermeer famously used it in his paintings, as did Michalangelo in the heavens of the Sistine Chapel.
Michelangelo, “The Last Judgment” (1536-41), fresco. Lapis lazuli was used in the blue of the sky
Photo Credit: Sistine Chapel/Wikimedia
Until relatively recently, ultramarine was also thought to be used in extravagant amounts in the Book of Kells. However recent research has shown that the enterprising monks used a much cheaper alternative: woad, a flowering plant that was cultivated in Ireland to produce more affordable blue dyes and pigments.
3. Why choose lapis lazuli jewelry?
Lapis lazuli has a rich and attractive color
Just like the pharaohs or Cleopatra of ancient Egypt, or the artists of the Renaissance, many today are drawn to lapis lazuli for its deep and rich blue color. Given it is a stone made of three minerals, this blue can vary. A high quality piece of lapis should be a rich, deep blue with relatively few visible white streaks and a sprinkling of gold.
This rich blue pairs beautifully with the cool tones of sterling silver but also looks smart contrasted with yellow or rose gold.
Lapis Lazuli is wearable and durable
Lapis is a relatively durable stone, especially when polished, but with a Mohs rating between 5 and 6 it is not as hard as precious minerals like diamond or sapphire. As lapis is usually used as polished cabochon or beads in most jewelry, this lower hardness is not an issue as it is not likely to chip or break. With care, a well-made piece of lapis jewelry can be worn daily and passed on as a treasured family heirloom.
Lapis lazuli is affordable
Thankfully the days of lapis lazuli costing more than gold are long gone! A piece of jewelry adorned with a lapis accent stone comes in at a significantly more accessible price point than sapphire or diamonds.
Lapis lazuli for wedding anniversaries
Lapis lazuli is also associated with wedding anniversaries, specifically for the ninth year. But we think adding stunning blue lapis to your jewelry collection really needs no other reason than it makes for striking and wearable pieces.
4. How to care for lapis lazuli jewelry?
If you already own a piece of lovely lapis lazuli jewelry, or are thinking of buying one and are wondering about how to keep it looking its best, here are our jewelry care tips.
Lapis jewelry benefits from regular care and maintenance just as with any piece of fine jewelry. You can read our general jewelry care tips here.
Avoid contact with chemicals
Given its relatively soft structure and the presence of the mineral calcite, lapis can be vulnerable to chemical damage. The calcium in the calcite can react with acids so be sure to keep them away from any chemicals including: cosmetics, hair spray, perfume, and especially common acids like lemon juice, or vinegar. Lapis lazuli can also scratch against materials like diamond, sapphire, or even steel, so be sure to store it safely away from other jewelry.
Citrus fruit and vinegar cleaner - household materials that should not come in contact with lapis lazuli jewelry.
Photo Credit: Precious Plastic Melbourne
Lapis Lazuli jewelry from My Irish Jeweler
You are now well on your way to becoming a lapis expert. We are proud to offer our customers a beautiful selection of lapis lazuli jewelry designed and made here in Ireland.
So if you are thinking that a lapis piece might be for you, have a look at our selection or get in touch by email, phone, or by booking a virtual appointment. We would be delighted to answer any questions you might have.
Get In Touch
Have a question or something you're not entirely sure about when browsing our pieces? Please reach out. You can send us a note or give us a call—the Dublin workshop is here to make sure that you have a perfect experience from start to finish with My Irish Jeweler.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, to see what's new and upcoming. Join our Email list for early offers and special features.
Jane
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Dublin but reared in Canada, as a child I had an interest in Ireland that will be familiar to many young emigrants. I was completely fascinated, wanting to know all about the land of my parents and grandparents. Rare month-long family trips back "Home" cemented my love for Ireland. And I wore my Irish heritage with pride, sporting my tiny silver Claddagh gifted to me by my Irish grandparents until my finger grew too large for it!
As a young adult I moved back to Dublin, studying Geology and Mineralogy in university at historic Trinity College Dublin. After living in Denmark and the Netherlands working as a scientist and university mineralogy lecturer, I finally settled back home in Dublin. I joined the growing family at My Irish Jeweler in 2016, bringing my useful knowledge of metals and minerals as well as my perspective as an Irish emigrant with a love for HOME.
Comments
Luv Lapis ! Beautiful! Lovely pieces Have some but have never seen it in Irish jewelry !
Lapis is quickly becoming a favorite in the workshop too, Sherri! But Connemara Marble will always hold a special place in my heart -- great thing is there's room for plenty of beautiful stones in there. So glad you're enjoying the new designs. We're excited to offer them!
Ask Gemma
Sounds very interesting, will love to own one someday