This opaque, deep blue gemstone has a history as fantastic as the Arabian Nights. It was among the first gemstones to be worn as jewelry. It has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue color peppered pyrite, which shimmers gold and looks like stars on the deep blue night sky of the lapis lazuli. At excavations in the ancient centers of culture around the Mediterranean, archaeologists have found decorative chains and figures made of lapis lazuli among the grave furnishings. Countless signet rings, scarabs and figures were wrought from the blue stone which Alexander the Great brought to Europe.
For many years - until synthetic pigment was made - lapis lazuli was ground to a powder and combined with binding agents to make the brilliant aquamarine blue found in Old Masters paintings. Unlike other pigments, it does not fade in light - in many museums, the aquamarine tint made with lapis lazuli shines through.
The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly. It was used in ancient Egypt to make cabochons of the sacred scarab. Lapis lazuli, in the shape of an eye set in gold, was considered an amulet of great power. In ancient times, lapis lazuli was known as sapphire, which is the name that is used today for the blue corundum variety sapphire.
At the Hermitage, in St. Petersburg, Russia, there are some beautiful examples of artwork of lapis lazuli, like this vase. These pieces took years to create. Once the stone had been selected, a craftsman would begin the work of turning the stone into designs set by the Tsar's Imperial Cabinet. When the vases were completed, they were exhibited on the Jordan Staircase in the Winter Palace at Easter and Christmas and the Tsar would select the ones he wanted; the rest were given away as gifts. This vase and other fantastic pieces of lapis lazuli, malachite (a green stone), jasper, pink rhodonite and others from the Ural Mountains can be found on display in the Italian Skylight Hall.
The best raw stones still come from the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. In good quality, lapis lazuli is rare, which is why even small pieces can be very expensive. Prices depend largely on the beauty and intensity of the color, with the most popular being an intense, deep blue. Look for the sprinkling of pyrite that shines like gold stars in the deep blue of the lapis lazuli - this will increase the value of the gemstone. A rough or blotchy grain decreases the value.
