    |
Lapis Lazuli Color
Isn't the lapis lazuli color just beautiful. As you can see in the lapis lazuli necklace set above, it has that rustic, earthy look to it. This is part of my handmade Peruvian jewelry collection and if you would like to see more, click here. There is lapis lazuli that is light, as you can see below, above is the darker shade. Either way, lapis lazuli stones are stunning. Lapis lazuli stones, a birthstone for December, has been highly prized since ancient Babylonian and Egyptian times. An amulet of "great power" was formed when lapis was worked into the form of an eye and ornamented with gold-in fact, so powerful that sometimes these eyes were put to rest on the limbs of a mummy. In addition, it was recognized as a symbol for capacity, ability, success, and divine favor.The intense, brilliant, blue color derives from the presence of the mineral lazurite. It is completely opaque and often contains small gold or silver pyrite inclusions that run through the material in veins or layers. The finest-quality lapis has an even, deep blue color that contains a purplish tint or tone and is free of pyrite inclusions. Afghanistan is still considered to be the best source. Russian lapis from Siberia is sometimes represented as better, but it is generally paler and with more pyrite inclusions.
Assessing Lapis Lazuli StonesThe popularity and value of good-quality lapis lazuli has resulted in numerous imitations appearing on the market. The large number of minerals that are stained or dyed blue can all be identified as imitations by a lack of pyrite inclusions, a difference in texture and/or hardness and visible pockets of dye. So, be sure to look for these inclusions and get to know your stone, before you buy.Don't confuse genuine lapis with the cheaper "Swiss Lapis" or "Italian Lapis," which aren't lapis lazuli stones at all. These are natural stones )usually quartz) that are artificially colored to look like lapis lazuli stones. Unfortunately, a great deal of natural lapis lazuli is dyed to even out the color or to improve the tone of blue. Sometimes material is dyed selectively and the dye is applied only to the white constituents. Dyed lapis is often waxed, oiled or coated with a polymer to improve its luster and to cover and preserve the applied dye, which makes it much more difficult to identify. There are also reports of lapis being heated to improve the color. Bottom line is, it is difficult to find pure, untreated lapis lazuli stones. If you want to know more about treatment of gemstones, click here. Remember, it's not a crime to buy treated gemstones, it's just that the price should be reflective of the treatment. Learn as much as you can on this topic, and ask a lot of questions when purchasing an expensive gemstone. Lapis Lazuli Color Caring for Your Lapis Lazuli StonesLapis Lazuli stones are very sensitive to pressure and high temperatures, so it should not be exposed to ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Avoid contact with household chemicals and always wipe perfume and perspiration off of your jewelry before storing it.Reference: Crowe, Judith, The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones Working With the Lapis Lazuli ColorWell, blue is blue and if you love the vibrant, deep blue lapis lazuli color, it is not difficult to incorporate it into your jewelry designs or your wardrobe. I think it looks great with silver and do not like blue with gold very much. Of course, you can incorporate some gold color into your designs, but only with care, otherwise it can look tacky. And nothing looks tacky with 14K gold!As far as fashion goes, a lapis lazuli necklace set would look great with any denim outfit. The ruggedness of the stone and the denim is just a perfect match. I also love wearing the lapis lazuli color with white. Other good color combinations that go well with lapis lazuli stones would be yellow, pink, orange, or red, and of course, everything goes great with black. Below is a nice selection of books if you would like more information other magic gemstones. If you are looking for books that are more for jewelry-makers or someone who doesn't want a lot of scientific explanation, the first two books are excellent: I have The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones and it has information on how to incorporate gemstones into your jewelry designs, along with excellent information about them gemstones, themselves. Jewelry Appraising is another one that talks in laymen terms. I really like Secrets of the Gem Trade which is written in "English" for all to understand. Would you like to build a website now? Click here or below for more details.
|
