Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is a deep blue metamorphic rock prized for its rich color and often speckled with golden flecks of pyrite, giving it a starry-night appearance. Composed mainly of the mineral lazurite, along with calcite and pyrite, it has a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5, making it relatively soft and ideal for carving and ornamental use. Its intense royal blue color has made it one of the most sought-after stones in human history, especially in ancient art and jewelry.

The finest Lapis Lazuli has been mined for over 6,000 years from the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan, with additional sources in Chile, Russia, and the United States. It held great cultural significance in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece, where it was associated with royalty, protection, and the divine. Ground into powder, it was also used as a pigment called ultramarine in Renaissance paintings. Today, Lapis Lazuli remains a symbol of wisdom, truth, and inner vision, treasured in both historical artifacts and contemporary design.