Lapis Lazuli Jewelry
Usually referred to simply as lapis, lapis lazuli is an unusual gemstone. Unlike most other gemstones, lapis is not a mineral, but a rock--a combination of a variety of minerals. The color of lapis can vary based on the mineral content of the rock, but the electric blue variety is generally agreed to be the most beautiful. Flecks of pyrite give it a gold-speckled look that is reminiscent of a clear night sky. Lapis is Latin for "stone," while lazuli comes from the Persian word lajward, the name of the region in which lapis was first mined. Lapis jewelry over 5,000 years old has been found in what is now Egypt. Many illuminated manuscripts from the Early Modern Period, i.e. the Renaissance, feature the use of powdered lapis lazuli dye.
Symbolism, Legend, and Healing Properties: Romans believed that lapis lazuli was a potent aphrodisiac (what didn't they think of as an aphrodisiac?) and in the Middle Age, it was thought to have strong medicinal and healing properties.
Lapis is a September birthstone.
Lapis Lazuli Earrings
 Blue Sphere Swirl |
 Island Blue |
 Constellation |
 Blueberry Cluster |
Lapis Lazuli Neclaces
 Neptune |
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