Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli is one of the most particular stones due to its mystical blue color. The color of the stones varies according to the influence that each mineral has in its formation process. This beautiful tone is formed thanks to a series of minerals that are each responsible for influencing their own way to generate this beautiful set of tones.

The lapis lazuli is not only very special for the qualities we already know but also for its distinction. Today, among many other curiosities of the ultramarine blue color, we will be able to know firsthand where this shade comes from and why it generates so much impact in society. You don’t need to be an expert in geology, you just need to let yourself be enveloped by the beauty of this stone.

Colors of Lapis lazuli

The lapis lazuli stone specifically handles two tonalities, one of them is the unmistakable golden color that resembles gold, and the other is its characteristic blue tone, which is usually called also as ultramarine blue, or “dark blue” due to the similarity of this color to the color of the sea. Its name derives from the medieval Latin ultramarinus, which means “beyond the sea” and refers to the fact that this natural pigment was imported from Asia by sea.

The ultramarine blue tone could be confused with the indigo or indigo tone, which is taken from the indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria), or also with the Azurite, except that this has greener shades. Both are beautiful colors but none as revered by history as lapis lazuli. Because only this color can generate in a person the same sensation of when he looks at the starry night sky. A sensation socially described as “magical.”

How does such a color derive from the earth?

Now that you know a little about the importance of this pigmentation we will tell you about the wonderful natural process that generates it. As we mentioned at the beginning, the color of the stone will determine the type of process that went through that rock. Most colors are due to the presence of organic materials in the precipitates.

The particular case of lapis lazuli comes from the presence of metallic ions in the crystalline network of the precipitates; the copper ions provide part of that bluish tone to the lapis, which in itself is a mixture of several minerals and each of them influences to generate that coloration: The colors of lapis lazuli are usually a mixture of lazurite with small amounts of calcite, pyroxene and silicates, and contains disseminated small particles of pyrite.

The lazurite is the element that gives it the blue tone (the more intense and blue the lazurite of the stone, the more precious the piece will be, although the lighter shades are the common ones). The abundant blue color comes from the sulfur that is fundamental in the lazurite structure. The most common and beautiful lapis lazuli consists of 25 to 40 percent lazurite. When the stone has a lot of white color, it means that it is classified as a cheaper calcite.

The tone has a great influence when detecting natural lapis because it is very difficult to recreate these golden specks in plastic, since their shapes do not follow any kind of pattern. It is more common to find fake lapis than real lapis. Usually low quality lapis lazuli is dyed blue to look high quality, and so can be sold for a lower quality price. But then they can fade on contact with clothing or skin. You can even try it yourself by putting on a little acetone or alcohol. Our lapis is real lapis.

The golden color of this stone, compared many times with gold, is very characteristic of it. The calcite is the one that gives color to its characteristic veins and the pyrite is the one that produces the golden reflections. The golden touches give the stone a set of shades that remind us of those used in Egyptian decorations and clothing.

The ultramarine blue before some eyes may look a little violet and this happens because the pigmentation also has red traces, mixed with bluish reds, this explosive combination offers the human eye endless possibilities for the creation of violets, which when applied finely on a white background or mixed with white paint, you get this characteristic blue color so intense but clear and particular from the Renaissance.

This beautiful tone that does not stop losing its appeal has been recreated in recent years in a synthetic way, however, this does not manage to look exactly like the original, and you do not need to be an expert to notice it. The main experiments to create this color were necessary, since obtaining it in an original way was too expensive and laborious. Lapis lazuli stones must be manually cleaned of all the impurities they bring naturally, which makes it a fairly long process, but if you are interested in this subject you can learn more in our post: lapis lazuli, meaning, etymology and secrets.

Guimmet experiment:

The obtaining of this color in a synthetic form began in the year 1824 during the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of the Chemical Sciences. That year a competition was organized in France, where anyone who discovered a synthetic variant of the same quality but cheaper would win 6,000 francs, which meant a huge fortune at the time. In 1828, three chemists: Guimet, Gmelin and Köttig discovered independently of each other, a very similar formula; but Guimet was the winner, having discovered the recipe years earlier in secret. Thanks to this discovery we observe this color in all the palettes of the world. Its official name is as follows: Pigment Blue 29, PB 29, CI 77007

Knowing the origin of this epic color will probably make you doubt about the fact that it forms naturally and not as part of some plan; but, yes, it is about nature doing its work. You can enjoy a beautiful collection of jewelry made with natural lapis lazuli in Nammu. Choose your favorite to always carry a window to the sea with you.

Originally Post  “Los colores del lapislázuli: una mágica creación de la naturaleza“

Translated by Oscar Moreno.

How wonderful must a stone like lapis lazuli be for society to continue talking about it over the years? Have you ever thought of it that way? Well, if you’re here surely yes, and if you’re not, then it has to be because you’re caught up in the history of our ancestors, just like me.  I love to tell you interesting stories every time I have new discoveries. Today we will tell the whole magical story of this stone reflected in the Bible.

Lapis lazuli, a magical blue stone and the bible, what relationship can they have?

As most people already know, the Bible gathers the history of people, the historical experiences of a nation and the life of a man who, for better or worse, means a lot to the society in which we live. This historical book allows us to know a little more about that ancient society that picks so much our curiosity, and it is wonderful! Because if you study it well you will notice that there are amazing details .

The stone of the sky and of curious name: lapis lazuli was admired, desired and highly valued by ancient civilizations. And thanks to the Bible, today we can receive that message.

The Precious Stones and the Bible:

First I’ll tell you a little about the value of stones in Biblical antiquity: Many precious stones are mentioned in the bible and they are always referred to as treasures, they were used as offerings, important gifts. Not only because of how difficult it is to obtain them, but also because of all the mystery and power hidden behind them.

Although people still believe that some jewels have the faculty to heal and purify the body, this thought was much more recurrent and popular at that time. Precious stones are those that are distinguished from the common ones due to their beauty, color and durability.

At this time, wealth was measured by the possession of these stones; kings and important people possessed them as true treasures. One of the biblical characters who possessed a large number of these was King Solomon.

Have you ever heard of this powerful man’s magical ring? Don’t worry, we’ll talk about it later.

We wanted to talk to you about this because you will be able to understand a little better the importance of lapis lazuli in this universal book.

Does lapis lazuli appear in the Bible?

In ancient times, studies of stones were a little more basic, and although civilizations cared about the quality of the piece they had, they were based more on its beauty and appearance. For this reason certain confusions arose.

In the past they called “Sapphire” what we now know as “lapis lazuli”. Perhaps its color can cause some confusion, because the sapphire is also a blue stone. However, lapis lazuli is sprinkled with shiny pyrites that give the appearance of a “dew of gold”.

It is impossible that the stone has been the one we know today as “Sapphire” because Theophrasto and Plinio describe it as a blue stone with golden spots, and the sapphire does not look like that. These are the characteristics of lapis lazuli. Besides, before the Roman Empire, sapphires were not known.

Plinio (A.D. 23-69) describes sappir (translated as sapphire) as follows: “The night sky, full of stars”.

 Theophratus (372-287BC) describes the stone as: “sappir stained with gold”. 

Although it is true that there is an original bible in which it manifests the same history, it is practically impossible that with its longevity and transcendence, it has not been interpreted and translated in different ways and religions. The perennial study of this historical piece of humanity has given rise to different discussions and points of view.

Exodus 28:18 describes the armour of the high priest (a person who acts as a priest ruler or who is at the head of a religious caste) and there, it is mentioned that the stone in the middle of the second row of his armour is called “Sappiyr” (Hebrew), according to Strong #H5601. 

While this word is translated by Strong as “Sapphire”, other versions of the Bible such as the BDB lexicon say that this can also be translated to lapis lazuli. Other versions such as the HCSB Bible and the New International version agree that it can be either of these two stones. NTV refers to the stone as “blue lapis lazuli”

Thus experts conclude that the stone that appears in the armour of the high priest is the lapis lazuli. A stone with a hardness of 5.5 on Mohs scale, much less laborious to engrave than a sapphire, which has a value of 9 on the hardness scale.

Historical appearances of lapis lazuli:

Did you know that the 10 commandments were carved on lapis lazuli?

God gave Moses the 10 commandments in the tables of the law, this table contains 10 statements to be followed by the people, these rules are the right way. What better place to leave these commandments that come from heaven than on the stone of lapis lazuli? The Hebrews knew it in Egypt and knew how valuable it was. Moses himself was possibly an important figure before leaving the land of the Pharaohs and, as such, having refined tastes, lapis lazuli was one of its reference stones. The most important laws of the ancient Jewish people and much of the world could not be engraved on any material.

Solomon’s Ring: Do you know King Solomon? This is the most powerful King that ever lived.

The Archangel Michael gave the king a lapis lazuli ring that allowed him to control the legions of demons, summon geniuses, talk to animals and flowers and who knows what else. The ring was made of gold with a stamp engraved on our protagonist stone.

This overseas stone has been present since the oldest civilizations, being a protagonist in religion, art, health, beauty and much more… Its value is immeasurable.

It is a pleasure for me to share my knowledge about this stone. Who knows what else we will discover?

Originally Post  “Lapislázuli en la Biblia: Valioso Tesoro“

Translated by Oscar Moreno.

Magnificent Lapis Lazuli.  I always wonder how someone can create such heavenly pieces of art.  Here I  will talk about the marvelous magical objects wonderful hands have made through time.. I will tell you about its use in the Persian and Roman Empire; the Renaissance and the Modern World. The magnificent works of the famous Pietra Dura.  The artistic wonders of Lapis Lazuli (lapis for short).   Enjoy!

Ancient Civilizations

Lapis Lazuli is a semi precious stone which appears in the most ancient civilizations known to man. Neolithic men were the first who created the first jewelry. They would bore a small hole through the Lapis Lazuli and string the pebbles of blue with a thread.

4,000 years ago, artists created objects like cylinder seals, necklaces. They also made amulets, animal statuettes and inlay on important statues, mostly in the eyes it absorbs all attention to the figure.

It had such an importance in life as well in the after life. Prove of that is that Lapis Lazuli was also found in Neolithic tombs in Mauritania and in the Caucasus. The wealthiest tombs of the first dynasties had lapis. The Egyptians listed it in their funeral items and also used it at the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

The first land vehicle is a queens sledge with lapis from 2100B.C., an interesting fact that made my day.  The Sumerian of ancient times created necklaces, belts, headdress, as well as finery, combs and tiaras.

The Palace walls in the Cretan Palace of Knossos from 2000B.C showed how the pulverized stone was mixed to form a blue pigment for painting.

Priests bordered Ecclesiastic Manuscripts with crushed pigment. Artisan painters also used Lapis for religious shrines and decorative elements on the altars of churches.

Persians

The Persians controlled the flow of lapis from antiquity. Their art presented itself in the painting of miniatures like Layla and Majnun, Shirin and Khosrav painting and specially the manuscripts of the poet Nizani (1140-1202 A.D).  Persian art, especially served two purposes; it inspired beauty and often provided a practical use in vases, containers and also in personal art. These artisans spent their lives grinding pigments by pulverizing minerals. There were various shades of Lapis Lazuli as pale blue, azure and greenish blue.

Roman Empire

Roman Emperor Augustus wife, Livia, in 1A.D was immortalized in a Lapis figurine carved of her face and affixed to a gold cross. It was a gift to Archbishop Herriman of Cologne.  Emperor Augustus was one of the founders of the silk route.  The silk route connected trade across Asia and he ruled Rome from 100-44 B.C.  He was also the grandnephew to Caesar.

Roman Legionnaires wore seal ring set with gemstones.   On his deathbed, Napoleon Bonaparte gave his son a signet ring of lapis.  It was a token of love.  The Roman practice of wearing seal rings continued and became a tradition.  This style began in antiquity and merged into western lifestyle.  To acquire an elegant and stylish Lapis Lazuli ring you only have to visit our favorite Nammu store.

Pliny the Elder, a scholar of repute, called lapis a star rock for its gold pyrite flecks.

A fragment of the starry firmament - Pliny The Elder Click To Tweet

Throughout the Latin speaking Roman World the word “sapphirus” was used when they were really referring to Lapis Lazuli.

Roman Healers

The Romans also employed lapis in the treatment of circulatory diseases, epilepsy and skin troubles.  They also used it as an aphrodisiac and who knows maybe they still do.  They used lapis earrings, bracelets and hypnotizing pendants.

Roman artists also immortalized in 1 A.D., the wife of Roman Emperor Augustus, Livia, in a Lapis Lazuli figurine. Livia’s face was carved and affixed to a gold cross.

In the Salle du Tresors in Paris at the Louvre are fine examples of lapis like the manuscripts of Chantilly where the French also used it as pigment applied to the pages.

Renaissance

Renaissance!  Literally the rebirth.  I’ve talked before of Lapis Lazuli and its artistic uses but I deemed necessary to dedicate an exclusive post to its use by the master artisans of the Renaissance and what it meant to the Roman culture.  Who hasn’t seen pictures of Michelangelo’s work in the Sistine Chapel or Leonardo da Vinci’s?  Lapis Lazuli Azzurro is a formidably example of heavenly craftsmanship.

I particularly had the incredible opportunity to admire in first hand the Sistine Chapel.  I remember I used to get lost in the blueness of the heavens without realizing at the time that I was also admiring another piece of work in its self, the beautiful and unique Lapis Lazuli.

Artisans and painters from the ancient Rome, also used Lapis for religious shrines and decorative on the altars of churches.

In the Salle du Tresors in Paris at the Louvre are fine examples of lapis like the manuscripts of Chantilly where the French used it as pigments applied to the pages.  Due to the frailness of the manuscripts one must wear a mask and turn the pages with wooden sticks to prevent decomposition.

In the Renaissance it was more expensive than gold.  Michelangelo’s pigments included Lapis Lazuli for the Sistine Chapel (1475-1564).  The Sistine Chapel is by far is one of the most exquisite uses of lapis pigment for the blues of heaven where the best stones were required.

Leonardo da Vinci, Fran Angelico and other master artists also wanted the mineral for pigments.  They usually reserved lapis for the cloaks of Christ, Angels and especially the Virgin Mary.

During the Renaissance, the Medici of Florence, the prominent Italian banking family, also provided decorative stones to artists like Benevuto Celli and other master artists.

It was a mark of wealth to commission a painting specifying the use of lapis.

Church

The Church also valued and esteemed beyond measure the decorative beauty of the chapels.  So the purchase of colorants was very important under the pontiff Clement VI, 1342-1352.  He directed the painting of the Chapel St. Michel, the Chapel St. Martial and the Chapel of St. Jean.  For the Chapel of Avignon, France, Clement VI chose Italian artists from the Siennoise School directed by Matteo Giovanetti de Vitero.  He was the official painter of many popes.
In the Renaissance the Goths of Europe migrated from the Near east to workshops of European artisans.

The paintings made during the renaissance used lapis until J.B Guimet, in 1826, discovered a method to synthesize and prepare a blue pigment in large quantities at a lower price.

The artisans obtained pigment powder by crushing,  calcinating and red heating the lapis and then immerse it on water

The artists also treated the powder with acetic acid to dissolve the carbonates.   Only a small amount, about two to three percent of the start up material, produced the final pigment.  When lapis pigment

Florence

Pietra Dura

Florence is the place where to find the majestic Pietra Dura. We can´t talk about Italian stone cutters without mentioning the Medici family. The first Medicis were doctors and apothecaries.  Hence the family name.

The Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo de´Medici and his two sons were the ones in charge of spreading the techniques of hard stone carving in its various forms all over Europe.

The stones, Lapis Lazuli included, were used for free-standing vessels, for hard stone inlay as in commesso di pietre dure, for intarsio (the jigsaw like inlay techniques) for scagliola, pressing the powdered minerals into designs incised in slabs of marble or a hardened compound of powdered marble and glue.

Examples of Medici hard stone patronage are all over Florence in more secular settings. Massive cabinets set with panels of elaborate pietra dura were created to accommodate the Medici passion for collecting. Cupboards, drawers, secret drawers could be stuffed with precious stones ancient and modern, sometimes worked by Florentine craftsmen.  In the panels the brilliant blue of Lapis Lazuli was used to re-create extravant wreaths of morning glory, bright-hued birds in branches, in borders and in frames.  Cost was clearly irrelevant to these Medici patrons.

When Ferdinando, son of Cosimo, took over the family, he dispatched vessels of pietra dura all around Europe to reinforce major diplomatic moves including marriages. The prestige of the family was his main concern.

Opificio delle Pietre Dure

In 1588, Ferdinando brought together a whole range of craftsmen and materials in a huge workshop which he named Opificio delle Pietre Dure.

Laminated Lapis Lazuli cut with the finest of saws was used extensively in the strange landscapes favored by Ferdinando.  The tool is an elegant bow-like artifact with six strands of fine horsehair to cut lamina from lumps of stone.

Flecked with calcite lapis is ideal for skies, seas or distant mountains.  There is a “Tuscan landscape” in the Opificio Museum with an expanse of lapis sky.  Another has distant lapis mountains and a lapis clothed angel coming to Elias who has a handsome lapis water jar at his feet.

Some of these laminated plaques were incorporated into pieces of furniture.

Nowadays, this workshop still uses the traditional tools for stone carvings.  Today they are wielded by smart young women conserving, restoring or actually creating other works of art and craft.

It has a courtyard with a big pile of Lapis Lazuli…

Modern World

The incredible workshops of Peter Carl Faberge in Russia also had access to Lapis Lazuli and fashioned one of the 58 grand Imperial Eggs for Czar Nicholas II in that material.  It was a gift to his wife, the Czarina Alexandra Feodorovna on Easter Day 1912.  The image of their eight year old son Alexis was the surprise inside the egg.  The frame was on top of a Lapis Lazuli base.  It’s on display at the Virginia Museum of Art in Richmond.  The most recent sell of an Imperial Egg was in 2007 at Christies for 18.5 million dollars.

Salvador Dali also designed sculptured jewels in artistic forms with Lapis Lazuli.

Experts in Idar-Oberstein use lasers to cut beautiful pieces.  Lapis is also used for cuff links, pendants, and earrings, rings. Lapis is also set into watch faces, and inlaid onto clocks or for marquetry on fine woods.  Carvings can also be found in fine stones particularly in Hong Kong and mainland China where they are worked more exquisitely than anywhere in the world.

Incredible all the beautiful things people through history have made with Lapis.  I can keep writing for days about this fabulous stone.  Lapis, a great contribution to humankind through art. Thankfully we can also acquire and have in are hands beautiful jewelry of Lapis Lazuli in my favorite Nammu store.

dried, its strength remained unchanged during the course of centuries.

This ancient formula lapis powder is still used today by museum conservators and forgers Click To Tweet

We’ve seen Lapis Lazuli in all shapes and forms.  Used in countless objects, jewelry, paintings and also for healing purposes.  One incredible use of lapis that we have seen briefly is the Bible Writ on walls.

Lapis shines here and there in some remarkable wall paintings.  For obvious reasons of expense (remember that in the old days, lapis was more expensive than gold) lapis lazuli pigment is used sparingly.  Sometimes an undercoat of cheaper blue pigment such as the copper based azurite was used.  Although in the eleventh and twelfth centuries we can find it occasionally even with great extravagance.

These wall paintings were an essential ingredient of a heavenly beauty designed to draw the eyes and feed the minds of a largely illiterate congregation as it circulates within the new church, highlighting the drama most usually of Old and New Testaments and also the lives of saints.

The only way of determine if lapis pigments was used on medieval wall paintings is with a proper analysis.

There were two methods of wall painting.  One was used in the Renaissance Italy and involved plastering an area of wall that had to be decorated while the plaster was wet.  The other was the traditional method used since at least the second millennium BC in India, Central Asia and in the Byzantine world.  In this method the wall was painted when the plaster was virtually dry.

Traditional Method

The plaster should be laid in two thick layers and the pigments applied when the second layer was virtually dry.  Walls were covered first with enough rough mud plaster with straw or hemp.  The second layer was polished smooth before drying.

Benedictine monk Theophilus (twelfth century), described this method on his On Divers Arts, “when figures or birds or representations of other objects are drawn on a dry wall, the wall must be immediately sprinkled with water until it is quite wet. And all the colors which are to be put on must be mixed with lime”.  In this case, Theophilus was wrong.  Lapis Lazuli would have been bleached if mixed with lime.

The two crucial blues, Lapis Lazuli and azurite, were mixed only with water and only painted on completely dry plaster.  Lapis was used moderately and frequently over the cheaper azurite to give extra brilliancy.

Most of the wall paintings that have survived from the Byzantine world are in more out of the way places than in the great metropolitan centres, like the Balkans, in the Gartempe valley in France, Burgundy, and also in Canterbury.

Here are some examples of these paintings.

Boyana Church

Located in the suburbs of Sofia below Mount Vitosha.  It´s a tiny church that was founded in the eleventh century.  It was enlarged in the mid-thirteenth century when the interior was decorated top to bottom with the most superb paintings.

It has around 240 scenes.  There are the usual scenes of heaven and terrible hell as well as the life of Christ and his Mother, with her Dormition over the western door of the chapel.  There is a Last Supper with Bulgarian staples, the lives of saints dressed in costumes of medieval Bulgaria, including the most popular St Nicholas. We can see fourteen scenes of his life including one of the most emblematic tales of his life, when he appears rescuing some sailors in the coast of Lycia.  This storm scene allows for ample use of lapis pigment.

We can also see the Boyana patrons, Desislava and Sebastocrator Kaloyan.

Arbanasi

In the tiny Church of the Nativity we can also find martyrdoms and monsters, Old Testaments prophets and medieval heroes.

Church of Ayios Demetrios

Just off the Via Egnatia, this church has incredible wall paintings, especially the early fourteenth century dedicated to St. Euthymius.  Here we can surely appreciate Lapis Lazuli highlighting the folds of the saints’ robes.

Church Of Ayios Nikolaus Orphanos

It has superb wall paintings about the bishop Nicholas.  We can once again appreciate Saint Nicholas saving the sailors.

Church Sant’ Angelo de Formis

Founded in the late eleventh century by Abbot Desiderius.  Every interior space is covered with paintings.  No expense was in its decoration.  A magnificent Christ in Majesty.  Images of the Old and New Testaments decorate the walls of the nave for the benefit of the illiterate.  The images exhale an austere Byzantine grandeur.  Blue is everywhere the dominant color, the blue of Lapis Lazuli.

Located in Cluny, France.  We can find Christ seated in Majesty, depicted as a four-meter tall Byzantine emperor within an almond shape mandala, symbol of the universe.  He is painted against a background of pure Lapis Lazuli.  The hand of God holds a crown over the head of Christ.  Here, no expense was spared, no limit to the expenditure of Lapis Lazuli.  Modern analysis has highlighted its abundant use.

Canterbury Cathedral

Here are the remains of a wall painting of a famous occasion in the Acts of the Apostols, in the life of St Paul.

St Paul was set against azure sky, the folds of his robe highlighted in ultramarine.

These are only a few of the places were you can encounter Lapis pigment in the most sublime sacred context, highlighting Christ and the Madonna in majesty, the terrifying apocalyptic world of revelation and the great consolation of Redemption.

Beautiful Lapis Lazuli that you can find in your favorite Nammu.com store.

Y hoped you enjoyed and learned as much as I did….

Present

Nowadays, this magical blue pigment obtained from Lapis Lazuli is mainly used in restoration work and by collectors of historical paintings.

It is simply incredible when you realize that this beautiful Lapis Lazuli was formed in the cataclysms of the earth sixty million years ago.  And now we can enjoy it in the form of dazzling jewelry in Nammu.

In the Renaissance it was more expensive than gold.   Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Fra Angelico and other master artists also wanted the mineral for pigment. Michelangelo also used pulverized Lapis Lazuli for the Sistine Chapel (1475-1564) . I discovered that it is by far one of the most exquisite uses of Lapis Lazuli as pigment for the blues of heaven therefore the best stones were required.

Thankfully for us, the blue color on canvas or frescoes prior to 1826 was Lapis Lazuli.  I say thankfully, because lapis gives a painting a magical aura. The genius Leonardo Da Vinci also used Lapis Lazuli in his work.  Artisans and painters reserved lapis for the cloaks of Christ, angels and specially the Virgin Mary.

In the mid 1800s artists and chemists began developing synthetic blue pigments for use as alternatives to ultramarine blue made from Lapis Lazuli. In 1824, The Societe d’Encouragement offered a prize of six thousand francs to anyone who could produce synthetic variety. After four years they gave the prize to Jean Baptiste Guimet who submitted a process he had developed in 1826.

The oldest mined gemstone on the planet is still sold throughout the world today Click To Tweet

Modern Day Lapis Lazuli Uses

Lapis Lazuli a magical stone that did not stay in the past. Human kind still does wonders with this sacred stone. From jewelry to cloth, from makeup to alternative medicine. Incredible house decorations and even silverware are the fascinating lapis lazuli uses..

Lapis Lazuli is generally known of its use as a gemstone. It is a very popular material for cutting into cabochons and beads for lapis rings, necklaces and bracelets. It is also used in inlay or mosaic projects carving sculptures and other ornamental implements, such as vases and cups. Other popular cuts include round or oval shapes as well as Lapis hearts and trillions.

Jewelry

Today, jewelry is its predominant use. Lapis Lazuli is frequently set in silver in modestly priced jewelry pieces. There is a growing trend to imitate the jewelers of ancient times and set fine-quality stones in gold, complementing diamonds or colored gems.

Lapis is made into cufflinks, pendants, earrings, rings, set into watch faces and inlaid onto clocks.  Lapis jewelry has come a long way since the first jewel when a Neolithic man bored a hole through the lapis and strung the pebbles of blue with a thread.

The most popular lapis has a uniform, deep blue to violet blue color. A lot of people enjoy a few randomly placed grains of gold pyrite or a few fractures or mottles of white calcite. Still, when pyrite or calcite is present in more than minor amounts, the allure of the material and the value are significantly lowered. Gray inclusions or mottling also quickly lowers desirability.

Lapis Lazuli has a hardness of about 5.5 on the Mohs Hardness scale which makes this rock especially good to use in earrings, pins, and pendants, where abrasion is less likely to occur.  When lapis is used in rings, cuff links or bracelet, especially if the top of the stone is raised above the top of the setting or bezel. In these uses, lapis will show signs of abrasion with continued use.

When stored as unmounted stones or in jewelry, lapis can be damaged if the pieces are not isolated from one another. Jewelry is best stored in separate boxes or bags, or in trays with separate compartments for each item. You can find detailed information on how to clean and store your lapis in Lapis Lazuli Care and Cleaning.

After it is cut and before it is sold as a finished gemstone, sculptures, or ornaments, Lapis Lazuli is frequently treated. Much of the material that enters the market has been treated with wax or oil that improves the luster of polished surface and seal the dyed calcite.

Crystal healing has been around since the beginning of time. It is said that all crystals have healing properties but Lapis Lazuli is a special stone. The gods worshiped Lapis so its power must come from a higher being (if that is possible). To learn more about crystal healing check out Lapis Lazuli Chakra Healing.

Even today Moroccan women are said to use powdered lapis for tattoos.

Tiles and House Decoration

More luxurious than marble! More striking than any ceramic! Dress you walls, tables or counter tops with a semiprecious gemstone.

The large size of the lazurite crystals, with irregular and angular shapes, react to light like finely faceted small diamonds, thereby producing an ever-changing display of rich, vibrant blues. This creates a three dimensional gem-like effect that can be placed on any surface, like a regular tile. The lapis lazuli uses in house decorations are unlimited.

It is incredible how Lapis Lazuli continues to be part of our every day life. From tiles for the living room, bathrooms, kitchen or even our silverware has Lapis Lazuli.

Fashion

Lapis Lazuli is well suited for men´s jewelry because of its rich, blue color. It can often be found in shirt studs and tie tacks, and especially in large cabochon rings. You can check Lapis Lazuli Revolutionizing Fashion to find people going the extra mile to satisfy demanding customers who are only accustomed to the best lapis lazuli linen. Companies like Scabal, Blaak or Linnet have no limits when they create with gems like Lapis Lazuli.

Pantone Color Institute

On September 16, 2016, Pantone LLC and X-Rite Company announced the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2017 edition.  They are the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industry.  And guess which color Pantone has predicted will be one of spring 2017’s hottest color?  You guessed it, our magical Lapis Lazuli Blue. So be prepared and trendy and Buy Lapis Lazuli for this spring 2017.

Lapis Lazuli uses has been seen everywhere from furniture to shoes to even buildings like in the old times when it was used in the foundations of important churches and temples.

Makeup

Precious stones like Lapis Lazuli are also used by the famous makeup brands in the world.  This shade of blue is called Ultramarine Blue (UMB) and it is derived from Lapis Lazuli. The firt to use Lapis Lazuli makeup were the Egyptian Queens and kings.

The inorganic pigments are no more than that:  minerals and metals. This pigment is known to be safe, stable and non-toxic due that it does not have much heavy metal and does not react much with the skin.  It has a reduced palette so its use is limited to certain tones.  Especially for foundations makeup and blush but not for eye shadows, nail polish and lipsticks. Much of the companies that use lapis are based in the formula that renaissance artists used for the lapis lazuli pigment making.

Rituals

The company Rituals specializes in body lotions and also in makeup using 100% precious gems.  They have mastered an ancient craft and made it their own with their unique touch. To learn more about lapis makeup  check out Lapis Lazuli Blue fashion.

Kids Learning of Lapis Lazuli

Minecraft

Our young ones are also learning about Lapis Lazuli. First with a game called Minecraft. In Minecraft the mineral Lapis Lazuli gives resources once it is mined. It issued dyes and it was used to make enchantments.

Steven Universe

There is another place where are kids are learning about our our beloved lapis. In a TV show called Steven Universe, where lapis is one of the heroes with Steven.

Everything starts in ancient times and is modernized today, but the basics were created by our ancestors. Incredible things, done with an incredible stone…