Lapis Lazuli the stone of heaven
Lapis Lazuli General Lapis Lazuli is a deep blue stone, with a long History. It has been known since ancient times, its name comes from a Persian word lazhward meaning blue, its historical source is in the Badakhshan mountains in Afghanistan where it has been mined for over 6,000 years.
Lapis Lazuli is opaque and slightly soft, so it is almost always cut in cabochon shapes, or as beads, rather than being facetted. Strand of Lapis Lazuli beads are considered very desirable – they are also a great accent bead for gold.
In the middle ages ground Lapis Lazuri was used for painting the Virgin Mary’s blue robes. The pigment ultramarine used to be made from crushed lapis lazuli, and probably provides the best description of its most intense colour. It usually contains golden coloured flecks of pyrites. These are regarded as increasing the value, and are an indication of authenticity.