I do hope you all had a wonderful holiday. It was very special here.
In one of the previous posts someone ask about the stone Lapis. I thought I might discuss it a bit this time and give you all just a little general information on this fantastic gemstone.
The set we are featuring to the left is a beautiful piece of deep blue lapis along with green turquoise set on crisp white pearls, done by Silver Creations. Guess this is their version of "surf and turf".
Lapis as we all refer to it is actually Lapis lazuli. The more you see it you think that it might have come straight out of the Arabian Nights. It's a deep blue with golden inclusion of pyrite which shimmer like the night sky.
Lapis lazuli is regarded by many people as the stone of friendship and truth.
It is an opaque rock that mainly consists of diopside and lazurite. It came into being millions of years ago during the metamorphosis of lime to marble.
Lapis is between a 5 and a 6 on the Mohs (hardness) scale. When polishing this stone the cutter must handle it gently and not subject it to much pressure. There is no need for the wearer to worry; a lapis lazuil that has grown matt from being been worn too much can easily be re-polished at any time to recapture the high gloss.
The best raw Lapis stones still come from the steep Hindu Kush in the north-east Afghanistan. The lumps of blue rock, taken from the mountains by blasting, are brought down into the valley in the summer months by mules. You will also find deposits in Russia, the Chilean Andes, Italy, Mongolia and the USA. Really good qualities are still rare all over. That is why the prices of jewelry with lapis lazuli can vary widely. The prices vary depending on the beauty and color of the stone. The most expensive are the deep blues, with crystals of pyrite that shimmer. Then the stones with a rough grain will be lower in price.
Lapis has weathered the changes in the fashion world thru the years. It is very versatile and loved by both men and women alike.
I own several Lapis pieces, all of which happen to be the deep blue color, but I have a daughter in law who happens to be fair complected that prefers the lighter color commonly know as denim lapis. No matter what your preference, you should make this stone a staple in your jewelry box.
Visit our site to see the lapis pieces we have available ranging from the larger piece featured here to the small more petite pendents.
