All About Beautiful Blue Lapis Lazuli

If you are an admirer of beautiful, deep blue gemstones, you will fall in love with lapis lazuli! Lapis lazuli is an opaque semi-precious stone that ranges in colour from violet through to the deepest royal blue, and is frequently flecked with shimmering strands of fool’s gold or milky calcite. It is not a single mineral, but is composed of several different minerals that have gained their colour from the presence of the mineral lazurite, and so is technically a rock. The name of this exquisite gemstone is derived from the Latin word for stone ‘lapis’ and the Arabic word for blue ‘azul’. The most sought after and valuable lapis lazuli is a vivid and even blue that shows very little marbling from other minerals being present. Because so many people love the brilliant blue colour of lapis lazuli, it is very popular for use in costume jewelry. The blue contrasts very well with gleaming sterling silver, and you will find that there is a great range of lapis lazuli earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets to choose from. It also makes great pendants as lapis lazuli is often cut into big stones and it is also made into beads for gorgeous blue lapis lazuli bead necklaces and bracelets.

Unlike some gemstones, such as tanzanite, which were only discovered during the last century, lapis lazuli has been known and worn for adornment since the dawn of human history. According to an old Persian legend, even the sky gained its azure colour from the fact that the world was supported on a large chunk of the vivid blue semi precious stone. It is known that lapis lazuli has been mined in the high mountain passes of the Badakhshan region in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years, and some of the finest lapis lazuli is still extracted there today in this inhospitable terrain. During antiquity, the lapis lazuli mined in Afghanistan was traded all over the Middle East, the Mediterranean and deep into Africa. Lapis lazuli beads and artefacts have been found in graves dating from pre-dynastic times at Naqada in Egypt, and this beautiful blue gemstone was used in jewelry, amulets and religious objects throughout the ensuing long history of dynastic Egypt. The royal blue of lapis lazuli was very much associated with the royalty of the ancient Egyptians as it was thought that this special gemstone could help to guide pharaoh successfully into the afterlife after the death of his mortal body. The ancient Egyptians also had another use for lapis lazuli, as they used to grind it into a powder and use it as eye makeup, which both decorated their eyes and protected them from the glare of the hot Egyptian sun. It was also thought to have medicinal properties, and was used in remedies for inflammations, ulcers and boils. Lapis lazuli jewelry has also been found in the graves from the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia, Mehrgarh in Pakistan, and the Caucasus.

These days we use the name sapphire for the gemstone blue corundum, but in antiquity it was lapis lazuli that was known as sapphire. Before this deep blue colour could be produced for paint synthetically early in the 19^th century, lapis lazuli would be ground up and mixed with binding agents to produce the amazing paint colour ultramarine. This paint was very expensive to make, but produced an intensely brilliant blue colour that has not faded over the long centuries. It is also one of the semi precious stones used in the fashioning of ‘commesso fiorentino’ or Florentine mosaics. This commesso technique was invented in Florence, Italy during the 16^th century and consists of making intricate mosaics by creating images with thinly cut and shaped slices of semi-precious stone. Florentine mosaic was used to make boxes, panelling, table tops, and pendants, and there are many fine examples to be seen in the museums of Florence.

Apart from the ancient lapis lazuli mines still being worked in Afghanistan, today the gemstone is extracted around the Lake Baikal region of Siberia, high in the Chilean Andes around Ovalle, in Angola, Myanmar, Pakistan, Canada, the US states of California and Colorado. The lapis lazuli that is mined in Chile tends to be of a lighter shade of blue than the stone from other regions and the Afghan lapis lazuli is still the finest in the world. It is a fairly soft gemstone and only scores between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale, so can easily be scratched or chipped. It is a semi precious stone that needs gentle handling when it is being cut, and is often treated with colourless synthetic resin or wax to protect the lapis lazuli from too much wear and tear. However, even if the surface of your favourite lapis lazuli is damaged in some way, it can easily be polished again to return it to its original beauty and radiance. As water can damage these protective coatings on your lapis lazuli, the safest way to clean your jewelry is by gently rubbing it with a soft, dry cloth.

Blue is regarded as a cool colour that soothes and calms, and it is thought that holding a deep blue lapis lazuli can help to calm your anxiety. Also, if you suffer from insomnia and find that stress keep you awake at night; try putting a lapis lazuli gemstone under your pillow or on your bedside table to help you enjoy a night of deep, peaceful slumber. It is believed to help in getting rid of any negative thoughts and feelings and can be used as an aid to developing psychic ability. On the physical level, lapis lazuli is used in crystal healing for helping with sore throats and high temperatures. It is also use as an aid to treat the ‘blues’, as wearing or holding lapis lazuli can promote feelings of calm and mental clarity. This deep blue gemstone is known as the birthstone for the month of December and as the gemstone for the zodiac sign of Libra. If you are looking for a gift for a 7^th or 9^th wedding anniversary, look no further than an exquisite piece of lapis lazuli jewelry, as traditionally it is the anniversary gemstone for those years of marriage.

Lapis lazuli is a semi precious stone, so can be surprisingly affordable. Deep blue is a colour that can be worn by most people, so lapis lazuli makes a great gift, especially if you have family or friends with a December birthday. To get the biggest choice of great lapis lazuli jewelry, why not have a look online? Amazon has a huge selection to choose from, so you are bound to find that perfect lapis lazuli pendant, earrings, bead necklace, ring or bracelet for you. Remember this radiant blue gemstone was once treasured by Ancient Egyptian royalty, so choose to wear lapis lazuli today and get in touch with your inner Queen!

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Lapis Lazuli image Wikimedia Commons David Monniaux under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 Unported