Lapis Lazuli is an alternate September birthstone to sapphire.
I have loved lapis lazuli since 1977 when I received a ring with a lapis inlay set in sterling silver from a boyfriend whose sister had crafted it herself. A lovely deep rich blue stone with flashes of pyrite (also known as "fool's gold), it appealed to me instantly.
Lapis also has a rich history. It was used lavishly in ancient Mesopotamia and in Persia, and was favored by the Greeks and Romans as well. The Mesopotamian city of Ur traded in lapis as early as 4,000 B.C. The name comes from the Latin for stone, lapis, and from the Arabic for blue, azul.
The Romans believed that lapis was an aphrodisiac (didn't the Romans think everything was an aphrodisiac?)
In the Early Renaissance, ground lapis was used to colour ultramarine, the paint used by artists to portray seas and skies in paintings (and very often the robes of the Virgin Mary). It is still mined in Afghanistan at ancient sites as well as Chile; there are also a few deposits in Colorado.
The lapis bracelet above contains a large nugget of lapis lazuli, longish pillow beads of fine lapis lazuli with nice flecks of gold pyrite, long rice beads of fine lapis, very blue small lapis coins, lapis cubes, iolite rondelles, and a very liberal use of vermeil - beads, chain, toggle, accents. The wonderful lampwork beads are borosilicate by the talented James Reeves of Gonzie and V 3 Glassworks. This bracelet will be listed for sale on our website Cluny Grey Jewelry.
For those of you interested, here are some of the supposed benefits of lapis lazuli:
- Protects from physical danger and psychic attacks
- eliminates of stress
- helps overcome depression
- helps symptoms of vertigo and insomnia
- brings good luck
- increases love, wisdom, compassion, friendship, prosperity, fertility, spirtuality, mysticism, healing, creativity
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