Lapis Lazuli is used for more than 6000 years for jewelry and ornamental objects. Its name is from "lapis," the Latin word for stone and "azul," the Arabian word for blue. Lapis lazuli is made up of 25 to 40 percent lazurite, plus several minerals (sodalite, hauyne, calcite, and pyrite) that influence color and its distribution. Based on that varying composition, lapis lazuli is considered a rock, not a mineral.

Its unique deep blue color has never lost its attraction. It places lapis lazuli next to its fabulous sky-blue cousin turquoise. An affordable stone for its carat weight, it is popular as a cabochon for rings and bracelets and an all-time classic stone with a silver setting.

Lapis lazuli is fairly soft, 5-6 (Mohs scale) and sensitive to strong pressure, high temperatures and household chemicals.

For people around the world, lapis lazuli is considered a stone of truth and friendship. The blue stone is reputed to promote harmony in relationships.

Lapis Lazuli colors
Buying Lapis Lazuli
Where is Lapis Lazuli found?
Common Lapis Lazuli treatments
World-famous Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli gemology
Lapis Lazuli legends & lore

Lapis Lazuli colors
Lapis Lazuli defines its color by name, the blue stone. Its blue varies from lazur blue, to violet and greenish-blue. Its coloring agent is sulfur. In the very best quality stones the color is evenly distributed, but in general the color is spotted.

The composition of the minerals, other than lazurite, influences the color as well. Well-distributed fine pyrite highlights the color with a brassy gold shimmer. Too much of the same mineral causes a dull, greenish tint. Lapis Lazuli fans may not agree as to how much pyrite is ideal. But most admirers and collectors of fine lapis lazuli agree -- the less calcite, the better. Calcite can be seen as streaks or patches within the darker blue, or it can predominate in the mix giving the rock an overall lighter blue shade.

Buying Lapis Lazuli
An affordable stone for its carat weight, it is popular as a cabochon for rings and bracelets and an all-time classic stone with a silver setting.

Lapis lazuli is fairly soft, 5-6 (Mohs scale) and sensitive to strong pressure, high temperatures and household chemicals. A ring should always be removed during household work.

Color
An evenly distributed, saturated lazur blue would be the first choice for purists. But the average gem-lover seeks a piece with a moderate to generous sprinkling of golden pyrite

Clarity
Lapis lazuli is opaque, with a vitreous and greasy luster.

Cut
Lapis lazuli comes in various shapes and cuts. It is mainly used for ring stones and bracelets cut en cabochon, bead necklaces, as well as carved sculptures, vases and various ornamental objects.

Lapis Lazuli location and deposits
The oldest deposits, discovered 6000 years ago, are located in the difficult terrain of the West Hindu-Kush Mountains in Afghanistan. They still produce the finest quality. Other deposits have been found in Angola, Canada, Chile (North of Santiago), Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia (Lake Baikal) and the United States (California and Colorado).

Common Lapis Lazuli treatments
The color of lapis lazuli can be improved through light heating and dyeing.

World-famous Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a real veteran in the illustrious history of gemstones. As early as prehistoric times it was already used in jewelry. In the Middle Ages it gained additional popularity as a pigment to produce ultramarine color for painters or to tint cloth. Some palaces, churches and mosques throughout the Middle East and Europe display wall panels and columns with lapis lazuli inlays.

Lapis Lazuli gemology
Species: Lapis Lazuli
Color: Lazur-blue, violet, greenish-blue
Chemical composition: (Na,Ca)8(SiO4,S,CI)2I(AlSi)4l6 sodium calcium aluminum silicate
Crystal system: Cubic (rare), dense aggregates
Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 2.50 – 3.00
Refractive index: About 1.50
Birefringence: None
Color of streak: Light blue
Absorption spectrum: Not diagnostic
Fluorescence: Strong: white, also orange, copper-colored

The Lapis Lazuli zodiac, myth & legend
For people around the world, lapis lazuli is considered a stone of truth and friendship. The blue stone is reputed to promote harmony in relationships.

In Antiquity, as well as in the Middle Ages, people believed that the cosmos was reflected in gemstones. Lapis lazuli is assigned to the planet Jupiter. The esoteric movement revived the ancient believe and the gem industry made it another marketing tool to promote certain gems.

The healing powers of gems remain a controversial issue, but are mentioned for centuries by healers, shamans and medicine men. Whether it’s a fact or a placebo effect doesn’t matter, if it helps. The safest approach is to wear the gemstone in skin contact to the troubled part of the body. Lapis lazuli is said to be of help for headaches, sore throat and varicose veins.