Lapis Lazuli – Blue Stone

Lapis with the meaning of “stone” in latin and lazuli as a meaning of “blue” from ancient Persian, Lapis Lazuli speckled with gold inflections has been revered from a prized source of artisan pigment, to a gemstone fit for adorning the mask of lauded ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun.

Revered throughout ancient Egypt this semi precious stone was imported from as far away as the mines of Sar-i Sang in what is now Afghanistan, where it was secured and then carried on caravan trade routes that stretched for thousands of miles connecting the ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Sumeria and Indus Valley civilisations.

Popularly made into scarab beetle figurines that signified rebirth and regeneration, as well as amulets and legal seals, lapis lazuli was considered highly in ancient Egyptian society and imported across the history of this ancient civilisation.

Mesopotamia’s mention of Lapis Lazuli gemstone is found in the first recorded poem “the Epic of the Gilgamesh”, while in nearby Sumeria it was used in jewelry that included examples of beautiful bead necklaces and statuettes, where it was used as azure blue iris’s.

The ancient Greeks were also familiar with this gemstone and in the classical ages they referred to it as “Saphirus”, with the Roman author Pliny the Elder talking of it as being “opaque and sprinkled with specks of gold” in his work “Naturalis Historia” which was to become the model of all subsequent encyclopaedia.

Later frequent old testament mentions of “Sapphire stone” made at the time of the Roman empire are most likely referring to lapis lazuli, as the precious stone Sapphire had not yet been discovered.

Brilliant Ultramarine

As natural source of the bright blue pigment ultramarine – which is obtained by grinding down the parent rock and extracting the bright blue pigment, Lapis was used in provision of Egyptian makeup that included blue coloured eyeshadow adorned by Egyptian Queen Cleopatra .

The later middle ages saw ultramarine pigment used for the painting of central religious figures, where it’s azure blue colouring was likened to the blue of the sky interspersed with natural golden flecks from the sun, and with a commensurate value that was second only to gold.

Ancient peoples traded Lapis Lazuli gemstone widely across the world, with notable deposits being found in the “Sar-i Sang” mines that date from pre history and have produced some of the worlds best examples, with a brilliant azure blue colouring uniformly found throughout their precious stones.

Precious Blue Mineral

Unlike many gemstones lapis lazuli is actually an aggregated collection of other minerals that form when limestone deep under the Earth is heated by the conducted heat from nearby intrusions of magma.

This form of “contact metamorphism” occurs mainly due to this heating alone, slowly changing the mineral makeup of the original rock into something new.

The most prominent constituent mineral is named “lazurite” and must constitute at least twenty five percent of Lapis Lazuli gemstone makeup for it to be considered true Lapis.

Lazurite is an intense blue silicate mineral whose radical silicon elements show strong absorption of yellow and red visible light – contributing to the strong blue reflections of light that give rise to Lapis Lazuli’s famous blue colour, while lazurite found singularly in nature can also directly grow into beautiful azure coloured blue crystal.

Lesser minerals, notably pyrite, are almost as important in lapis lazuli, and pyrite inclusions are very visible to the eye as small crystal flecks that shine with golden yellow in real lapis lazuli.

Most lapis lazuli gemstone will include some white areas of calcite minerals, though prized examples have less white calcite area and a larger depth of deep blue colour, which is interspersed more with gold pyrite and violet blue lustre.

Art and Fashion

Metaphysical writings on lapis lazuli gemstone vary across sources, though perhaps as lapis lazuli is comprised of different minerals that were once different crystals altogether it is often written as a gemstone of great depth, showing a connection to it’s deep blue colour that projects hidden meaning, and is frequently connected to use in meditation and exploration of the deeper self.

In the world of fashion and the art’s lapis lazuli’s history stretches across great works of art and famous names throughout time.

One of the most famed uses of lapis lazuli derived ultramarine is in the “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh, in whose art deep blue ultramarine pigment depicts the impressionist view of a deep night sky as seen from the window of his asylum in residence.

“The virgin in prayer” by famed Italian artist Sassaferrato depicts the blue robe of the virgin Mary devout in prayer, painted in brilliant blue ultramarine pigment.

Belonging still to the ancient world the famous funeral mask of Tutankhamun is cast in solid gold, though features gemstones ranging from quartz crystal eyes, obsidian pupils, turquoise and amazonite inlays of a broad gold collar, and lapis lazuli for eye surrounds and eyebrows.

Lapis Lazuli Gemstone Jewelry

Modern era lapis lazuli jewelry still follows many of crafting traditions carried forward from the ancient worlds love of this precious jewel.

Set in simple worked golden yellow surrounds lapis lazuli is often found radiating it’s natural colour in large carat pendant necklaces that feature single cabochon pendants of the bluest varieties of lapis, though multiple pendants set into more complex precious metal chains and settings are sometimes seen.

Though faceted gemstones can be found in pendants that play more strongly upon reflection of light, perhaps owing to the softer nature of lapis and the ease of which it can be worn down if not careful, lapis is more often seen as cabochon and bead jewelry.

Taking a high level of shine in polishing lapis lazuli cabochons and beads are oft mounted in high polished gold and silver work, following in the footsteps of the ancient Egyptians who also adorned this gemstone with precious metals.

Our Take on Lapis Lazuli

Our own designers use of lapis lazuli takes the natural radiant blue colour and matches it with the colours of other natural gemstones such as white agates and cream aventurine to achieve plays of colour projecting new modern style and the artists concept goal.

One of our best loved necklaces is a blue lapis bead and white agate star pendant necklace shown above, in this piece the pure blue colour of lapis projects deeply from a long dress necklace length bead chain, lightened by silver floral brocades that act to bring a little extra light to the design.

The centrepiece of the design is the beautiful natural crystal of agate radiating in light and semi transparent, that not only catches the eye but serves to further uplift the colour of lapis from blue to azure and brings contrasting blends of colour to the piece.

Matched with an agate and lapis lazuli bracelet that elegantly contrasts innocent colours this set is a simple projection of colour and style and a beautiful adornment to cheery dresses and colourful clothing.

Our pink bead aventurine bracelet continues this trend of colour palette contrasting in the above photo.

Carved into five petal flowers the depth of colour in the lapis lazuli is made more evident by contrasting to the detailed though simple cream white aventurine bead it is partnered with.

Silver baubles of flowers catch and reflect light in this design further drawing attention to the contrast of deep blue and natural peach pink white.

With some similar colour traits and opacity to lapis our collection includes a vibrant example of phosphosiderite and lapis lazuli bracelet that matches purple and yellow gemstones to a bright carved barrel bead of lapis in the centre.

Designs including lapis lazuli gemstone can be found under our gemstone collection page on our website that can be viewed here while designs with similar colour contrasting can be seen on our vibrant colour concept page.

Lapis lazuli is as much known for as a colour as it is for a gemstone, it’s natural azure blue tone can be found in the great art works of history, in the worlds greatest gallery’s, and decorating the most famed examples of ancient works that have become cherished parts of global culture.