LAPIS LAZULI AS USED IN ESTATE JEWELRY AND ANTIQUE JEWELRY

VALUE
The most important aspect for lapis lazuli is the color. The most valued lapis is a deep violet blue. Lapis stones without pyrite or calcite are the most valued. Lapis with pyrite is more valuable than with inclusions of calcite. The blue color of lapis is caused by sulfur.

ORIGIN OF NAME
The name lapis lazuli is from the Latin word for "lapis", meaning stone and the Persian word "lazhward" meaning blue. Prior to the middle ages, lapis was called "sapphirus" which also means blue. It is considered that in ancient texts that references to "sapphirus" was to lapis and not to sapphires.

VIEW OUR LAPIS LAZULI ESTATE JEWELRY COLLECTION
Estate Flip Art Deco Coral Diamond and Lapis Lazuli Diamond 18kt Gold Ring - Estate Jewelry
Vintage Huge Lapis Pearl Ring
Lapis Lazuli Gold Ear Clips
Lapis Lazuli Diamond 18kt Gold Ring
One of a Kind, Custom Emis carved Lapis Lazuli, Diamond and Ruby Brooch
Lapis Lazuli Diamond 18kt Yellow Gold Ring

HISTORY
Lapis Lazuli has been mined in Afghanistan for over 5,000 years. Afghanistan is still the leading producer of lapis lazuli when considering quality and quantity. During the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, rebels would sell lapis to help finance the war. Lapis is also found in Chile, though the quality is not considered as great because the Chilean lapis has more white calcite and the lapis color is light. Often lapis from Chile will be dyed. To a lesser extent, lapis is also produced in Colorado and the Soviet Union.

HARDNESS
With a hardness of 5 to 5.5, on the Mohr's Scale. Lazurite is not very hard, but fine grained lapis is reasonably tough. Lapis should be removed prior to washing one's hands.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ESTATE JEWELRY AND ANTIQUE JEWELRY
Likewise, ultrasonic cleanings and harsh chemicals may damage the stone.

ESTATE JEWELRY HISTORY
The Egyptians have used lapis prior to 3100BC, to make beads, scarabs, pendants and lapis-inlaid jewelry. The Egyptians also ground lapis to make blue eye make-up and to make medicine. During Confucius, lapis was used to make belt decorations. Lapis was used to make small decorative carvings during the Renaissance. In the late 1790's, Catherine the Great decorated her palace (Pushkin Palace) with the blue stone, using lapis to decorate doors, walls, and mirror frames. Lapis lazuli was used during the Victorian Jewelry Period. Lapis lazuli is popular in current jewelry and contemporary vintage jewelry.

LEGENDS
The buddhists believed that lapis brought peace of mind and removed evil thoughts. Lapis has been used to treat snake bites and by the thirteenth century, it was used to treat fever and melancholy.

TECHNICAL DATA
Lapis Lazuli Data: composed principally of the mineral lazurite (a sodium alumniosilicated containing sulfur, chlorine and hydroxyl with variable amounts of pyrite and white calcite
Cleavage: not relevant for a rock
Refractive Index approximately 1.5
Opague
Specific Gravity: 2.7 - 2.9

MOHR's SCALE
The measure of relative hardness, Mohr's Scale defines common stones and minerals for the hardness and durability. Hardness is one measure of the strength of the mineral relative to its chemical bonds. It is not the same as brittleness, which is related to the structure of the mineral. Hardness is tested by scratching. Using Mohr's Scale, the higher the number, the harder the mineral. talc (used to write on chalkboards) is defined as the softest mineral and is given the value of 1. Diamonds are the hardest and are given the value of 10.

Mohr's Scale is as follows:
1. Talc
2. Gypsum
3. Calcite
a copper penny is 3.5
4. Fluorite
5. Apatite
5 to 5.5 Lapis lazuli
window glass or a typical knife blade
6. Orthoclase
7. Quartz (amethyst and citrine)
8. Topaz
9. Corundum (rubies and sapphires)
10. Diamond