Lapis Lazuli

Chilean Diaguitas and Peruvian Incans were carving, trading and warring over lapis lazuli in Pre-Columbian times.

Ancient Egyptians saw lapis lazuli as a symbol of the night sky and the heavens, and believed that it would ward off evil.  It was used for amulets and ornamentation, King Tut’s coffin being a prime example. Powdered lapis lazuli was even worn as eyeshadow.

Lapis Lazuli symbolised success in the old Jewish tradition, as it combined the blue of the heavens and golden glitter of the sun. In the early Christian tradition, lapis lazuli was regarded as the stone of Virgin Mary.

Ultramarine is a deep blue pigment which was very difficult and costly to produce as it made from powdered lapis lazuli.  It was used for decorating altars and icons. The robes of Mary of Nazareth on church walls and ceilings in the Sistine Chapel were painted ultramarine. It was also popular with medieval miniaturists.

The most important sources of lapis lazuli are the mines in Badakhshān, northeastern Afghanistan, and those near Ovalle, Chile, where it is usually pale rather than deep blue. Deposits are also mined today in Russia, China and Myanmar.

In ancient civilizations, it was believed to possess mystical properties and was often used in rituals and ceremonies. Lapis Lazuli was also associated with the throat chakra, representing self-expression and communication.

The stone is believed to strengthen the body, mind, and consciousness. It is used for healing sleep problems, lowering blood pressure and fever, as well as for treating various inflammations, eye and nerve diseases, migraines, asthma, and sciatica. It is also said to cure diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal ulcers, purifies the blood, has antimicrobial properties, helps treat skin diseases, and eases childbirth.

Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock combining deep blue lazurite, cloudy white calcite, sparkly golden pyrite and other minerals. It has no standard shape, and has been carved into beads, bowls, hair combs, and amulets and even game boards.

An opaque stone with a dull lustre, its main appeal is its intensely deep blue colour. The most prized lapis contains little or no pyrite, no calcite and is an intense, uniform, medium-dark, slightly violetish blue.

It ranks 5 to 6 on the (Mohs) Hardness scale, which is about the same as window glass.

Lapis is sensitive to pressure, heat and (with its calcite content) household cleaners and abrasives. Lapis lazuli should not be placed in direct sunlight for long periods of time, as the sun can cause the colour of the stone to fade. Even though lapis lazuli can go in water, it is not recommended to leave the stone in water for extended periods of time due to its porous nature. Clean lapis with lukewarm soapy water. Wipe them with a soft cloth and when dry. Store Lapis lazuli jewellery in a separate bag or box where it can neither scratch nor be scratched by other jewellery. Avoid ultrasound and steam cleaners,

Don’t wear lapis lazuli jewellery while doing housework or participating in heavy activity.