Lapis Lazuli Jewelry.

Lapis Lazuli Jewelry Lapis Lazuli is a gemstone classified as a rock due to its composition as an aggregate of multiple minerals, primarily a unique chemical structure known in the trade as lapis. This stone is typically opaque, displaying medium to dark greenish-navy blue, pure royal blue, or violetish-midnight blue hues. Depending on its source, lapis may feature white calcite veining, which lowers its value, or golden pyrite flecks that resemble stars in a summer sky, enhancing its visual appeal. Lapis has been mined in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years and was prized by ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. In Rome, it was known as the blue stone, symbolizing chastity, a remedy for sadness, and a means to offer protection and divine assistance to angels. Today, lapis is abundant in the jewelry market, with large stones readily available and often used in beads, cabochons, tablets, and carvings. Afghan lapis is renowned for its fine quality and color purity. While lapis mined in Chile often exhibits less desirable white veining. Lapis was removed from the official U.S. birthstone list in the 1950s, but for many years, it was a favored gem for those born in December, often recommended as an alternative for customers. Afghanistan has the finest quality, Chile and Russia have certain portion. The hardness of lapis is between 5 to 6 on Mohs scale, and the toughness is fair. Lapis lazuli's stability and care requirements are important for its longevity. High heat can induce an undesirable green color or cause complete color loss, while the stone remains stable under light exposure. However, it can be decomposed slowly by hydrochloric acid and discolored by cyanide solutions. Common treatments like dyeing can improve color and hide white veining but are only fairly stable, as some dyes fade or are affected by solvents. Coating or impregnation with oil, paraffin, or plastic can enhance color, polish, and appearance while sealing any dye, though these treatments, especially paraffin, can be damaged or destroyed by heat and chemicals. Both dyeing and coating are common practices and can be detected by a trained gemologist or gemological laboratory. If there's any doubt about a stone's treatment, it's advisable to send it to a gemological laboratory for verification. For cleaning, lapis should never be subjected to ultrasonic cleaning, and steam cleaning is risky. The safest method is using warm, soapy water. Lapis can be imitated by glass or plastic, with chalcedony and sodalite serving as common alternatives. Welcome to visit Sesame Gallery Etsy Store for your favorite gem jewelry. Thank you for your watching and listening.