Who is lapis lazuli stone suitable for?

The lapis lazuli stone, whose magical properties have been known since ancient times, is popular in jewelry. Since ancient times, its deep, intense blue color has been considered a symbol of divine favor. Therefore, the gem was used to create sophisticated jewelry for royalty.

History of lapis lazuli

The history of an unusual ultramarine colored gem begins in the ancient world. The mineral was first discovered in the Pamir Mountains during marble mining. Soon the news of the amazing nugget spread throughout the world. Trade caravans carried valuable cargo through Bactria to the major population centers of the ancient Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Indians. The first mentions of azure deposits are found in the manuscripts of Marco Polo, dated 1271. The nugget instantly captivated jewelers and rulers with its exquisite hue. The mineral was used to create sophisticated jewelry, decorate statues and other interior items. For a long time, the blue nugget was revered as a symbol of the supreme god of heaven – Tengri. Slaves who worked in the azure mines in the Badakhshan region were chained. The overseers were afraid that the miners would steal and remove the rare mineral from the mines.

Origin of the name

Lapis lazuli acquired its current name in ancient Persia. Translated from Arabic, the word “azul” means sky blue. In Rus’, the nugget was called lapis lazuli. Having conquered the Arab countries, the “traveler” arrived on the European continent, where he was loved for his aesthetics and amazing palette. In ancient times, artists crushed the mineral and made a bright blue paint from the powder – ultramarine. According to legends, the 10 divine commandments of Moses were engraved on boards made of ultramarine mineral.

What is lapis lazuli, what does lapis lazuli stone look like, properties

The ultramarine nugget was a human companion at all stages of the development of civilization. True lapis lazuli is simply stunning in bright sunlight.

Description

Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious ornamental material. It is not a translucent mineral with a glassy luster. Thanks to its rich, noble color, jewelry with gemstones looks bright and luxurious. Some jewelers call this amazing gem a heavenly stone, since it mysteriously reflects the radiance of the starry sky.

What color is lapis lazuli?

True lapis lazuli is a non-translucent nugget of intense dark blue color with shine. Some gems contain minor sparkling (pyrite) inclusions of a silver (gray) or golden hue. A high quality stone has no inclusions. It has a pure dark blue color with a purple tint. A detailed description and photo of the mineral will allow you to distinguish the original from fakes.

Varieties

• Sufsi is a blue-blue stone with an admixture of greenish tint. The gem may contain impurities of other minerals of lesser value.
• Asmani is a type of sky blue nugget with gray inclusions.
• Niili is a nugget of the marine palette. It is distinguished by a homogeneous uniform color. Occasionally contains gold inclusions.

Niili is considered the most valuable specimen among Afghan lapis lazuli. There are no gray or other stripes or spots. This is an elite type of material.

Lapis lazuli properties – chemical and physical

Lapis lazuli is a mineral with a complex chemical structure. It belongs to sulfur-containing aluminosilicates. The stone owes its impressive palette and special physical characteristics to the rarest sulfur compound in its composition.

Chemical formula – Na[(AlSiO4)SO4]. This is a fairly pliable and unpretentious gem to process. The hardness of the mineral according to the Mohs graph is 5,5. This is a light nugget with an average density of 2,4 g/cm³. Has a conchoidal or granular fracture.

Stone products require careful handling, since they can be easily scratched with a carbon steel blade.

The mineral dissolves without a trace in hydrochloric acid. During the process, hydrogen sulfide is released.

Application, where used

The nugget belongs to the category of ornamental. Instances are used to create decor and mosaics.

Jewelers rarely use the mineral for inlaying gold or silver jewelry. In specialized stores you can find exquisite beads or earrings made from lapis lazuli. Fashionistas appreciate pendants, brooches and other attributes inlaid with nuggets.

Where is mined

The nugget is mined in different regions of the world.

Traditionally, the source of elite lapis lazuli is the mountains of Afghanistan and Chile. In Russia, the nugget is mined from Lake Baikal in Siberia. The list of minor deposits includes: Angola, Colorado, Canada and Pakistan.

Natural and artificial

Modern scientists have not been able to synthesize coarse-crystalline lapis lazuli in laboratory conditions. Experiments in this direction are ongoing. At the same time, it was possible to create synthetic ultramarine paint. It is quite difficult to find a fake stone on the market.

How to distinguish natural stone from artificial

Under the guise of an ultramarine nugget, unscrupulous sellers offer jasper or fakes made of painted glass. Fraudsters often color cheap stones and pass them off as elite ones.

It is impossible to distinguish a fake from a natural nugget outside the laboratory. The results of a simple test should alert the buyer: the specimen must be dipped in a container of water. On the original the moisture spreads evenly, but on the fake it collects in small droplets.

Under artificial light or at dusk, a natural, sky blue nugget fades. In daylight or under the sun’s rays, the celestial palette of the original becomes brighter and more saturated.

Medicinal properties

The ancient Egyptians attributed numerous healing properties to lapis lazuli. Blue stone powder was proposed to be used for poisoning and digestive disorders. Today lapis lazuli is not taken orally, but is used as a healing amulet for various pathologies:

• dysfunction of the endocrine system;
• dermatological diseases;
• high blood pressure;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• decreased visual acuity;
• asthma;
• depression, sudden changes in psycho-emotional state;
• threat of miscarriage.

Lapis lazuli earrings are considered an effective means of combating dandruff and alopecia, and a pendant inlaid with stones is considered a cure for seasonal allergies.

Lapis lazuli stone magical properties

Since ancient times, this heavenly stone has been attributed the ability to magic and healing. It is believed that the magical properties of the nugget depend on the setting. A stone in gold can enhance the owner’s intuition, attract the attention of people around him, and help in solving family problems.

A silver frame helps protect the wearer from envy, intrigue and damage.

The magic of lapis lazuli manifests itself as follows:

• eliminates the negativity of people around you and unpleasant memories;
• helps make dreams come true;
• gives self-confidence and determination, motivates to achieve goals;
• reveals creative talents and abilities;
• helps to make the right decision;
• gives the owner composure and calmness;
• increases intellectual abilities.

A bracelet or beads with a nugget can radically change a person’s life and help solve love problems.

Talismans and amulets made of lapis lazuli stone

Stone amulets can change the fate of the owner. If you wear them regularly, amulets change a person’s life for the better, ridding his environment of negative people. The owner of a piece of jewelry or figurine becomes luckier and gets rid of negativity.

Healing properties, meanings, compatibility

Lapis lazuli is a versatile nugget. It is suitable for a person of any gender and age. Jewelry inlaid with lapis lazuli is recommended to be worn by those whose work involves interacting with other people. Giving a stone means emphasizing your friendly disposition towards a person.

Properties for men and women

The nugget helps young men:

• maintain sobriety in emergency situations;
• harmonize personal relationships;
• achieve success in business.

For girls, the stone acts as a talisman of family happiness. Pregnant women are advised to wear jewelry inlaid with lapis lazuli to protect the mother and baby. It is believed that a pebble held in the hand helps a woman give birth faster. The mineral is able to normalize mood, relieve stress, irritability, negative mood, and increase communication skills.

The value of the stone

The amazing azure hue of the mineral allowed it to receive the title of a valuable finishing material. Magicians and astrologers attach special significance to the mineral. For a long time it was considered a symbol of power and noble origin.

Lapis lazuli and names

The mineral will suit the owner with any name. However, the energy of individual names resonates positively with his energy. Therefore, for the person whose name is that, the amulet will be as useful as possible. Lapis lazuli favors the following male and female names:

• Gleb, Dmitry, Alexey;
• Emma, ​​Zoya, Ekaterina, Alisa, Albina, Lyubov.

Combination with other minerals

The mineral is characterized by earthly energy. Good compatibility with earth element gems. The stone is often combined with topaz and other nuggets of the Water element. You should not wear a nugget together with a black opal.

Lapis lazuli has a neutral attitude towards “air” minerals. Lapis lazuli product is suitable for combination with beryl, quartz and amethyst. With such proximity, there is no need to worry about changes in the healing and magical properties of the heavenly stone.

You should not combine lapis lazuli products with “fiery” minerals.

Lapis lazuli suits your zodiac sign

Lapis lazuli is a nugget of the “earthly” element. This is reliable protection for those born under “earthly” zodiac signs. The mineral is characterized by compatibility with the sign of Sagittarius. Aries is allowed to boldly wear lapis lazuli items.

The stone has a positive effect on air signs. It will benefit Aquarius, Libra and Gemini. Neutral, will not cause harm, but will not bring significant benefits to the signs of Cancer and Pisces.

The product is not suitable for Leos and Scorpios. The meditative properties of the mineral can counteract the elemental power of the fire signs of the zodiac.

Stone care

Lapis lazuli products must not be dropped or mechanically impacted. The mineral has a fragile structure, easily splits and deforms. A damaged nugget loses its healing and magical properties.

It is not recommended to keep the mineral in direct sunlight or in the cold for a long time. Such an impact can lead to damage to its structure and loss of magical properties. The specimen does not tolerate the effects of acids, alkalis and other substances.

Caring for lapis lazuli products is easy. Dirt is cleaned with ordinary running water without detergents. The washed material is dried with a cloth or napkin.

It is recommended to store a beautiful but fragile specimen separately from other jewelry. An individual box or bag made of soft fabric is suitable for these purposes.

FAQ

How much does natural lapis lazuli cost?

The average cost of the raw mineral on the world market is US$2 per gram. The cost of jewelry inlaid with stones depends on the type of cut, the weight of the precious metal, the quality characteristics of the mineral, and the complexity of the work.

How to wear lapis lazuli?

Astrologers and magicians do not recommend wearing lapis lazuli jewelry all the time. The fact is that the stone can have a calming effect and slow down the reaction. It is optimal to use the product up to 5 hours a day.

Favorable time to buy.

It is best to buy lapis lazuli products in the second week of the lunar cycle. If the jewelry is purchased before the new moon, the gem adapts extremely accurately to the energy of the new owner.

From the very beginning of human history, lapis lazuli has enjoyed special respect. The deep, bewitching blue color was considered a symbol of the Gods and nobility; it identified courage, honesty, complacency, and fortitude.

A bit of history

For more than one million years, the precious stone lapis lazuli was kept in the depths of the Earth. Ancient geologists discovered it about 70 centuries ago. The discovery, like many similar ones, happened by accident. Deposits of the mineral were first discovered in Persia in Badakhshan. The mines were carefully guarded and anyone, even someone who accidentally wandered into them, was killed. Moreover, the law applied to everyone without exception; it did not matter to the guards whether powerful nobles or commoners without family or tribe approached the mine. At that time, only one person could have Badakhshan lapis lazuli – the Great Emir.

A few years later, residents began to use lapis lazuli to dye the clothes of great priests. The blue color was simply mesmerizing. One could be proud of the result of the masters’ work, because in the sunlight the robe sparkled sky blue, and at dusk it became dark blue. Lapis lazuli was used to make all kinds of jewelry and household items for the pharaohs. They learned to use the blue mineral in painting, pushing it into powder. Ultramarine color was often used in paintings. It is worth noting that the paint obtained from the mineral was of high quality and did not fade at all in the sun.

In China, to show that the monarch was a messenger of higher powers, he wore a hat decorated with lapis lazuli beads.

In Europe, the greatness of the blue mineral was also recognized. During the Renaissance, it was inserted into jewelry; the houses of the nobility were decorated with interior items made of expensive stone. In Russia, they began actively mining “ultramarine gold” at the end of the 2th century, but it was found in the Baikal region much earlier. The Russian mineral was not of very good quality, since it contained many inclusions of calcite. Having seen what the Russian stone looked like and comparing it with the Badakhshan stone, Catherine the Great decided to purchase XNUMX columns from Eastern merchants, which have survived to this day, decorating St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The purchase was incredibly expensive for Russia. The weight of silver that the eastern merchants took with them as payment was equal to the weight of the columns themselves.

The Badakhshan deposit is still in use today. The stone extracted from it is the most expensive. Its value is explained by the purity and content of gold inclusions of pyrite, thanks to which the mineral resembles a starry blue sky.

Magical properties

Magic has always attracted people. Some rituals that are used today are hundreds, and maybe thousands of years old. Amulets made from special types of stone protected against damage and the evil eye, added strength to achieve a goal, and improved health.

At all times, the magical properties of lapis lazuli were used only by white magicians. The stone personifies the positive character traits of a person and helps to become better, stronger, kinder. Among the Sumerians, the stone was considered sacred, capable of saving from any misfortune. Travelers took it with them on the road, because it was believed that in this way God himself would be next to them.

Azure is considered a symbol of friendship. That is why products made from the mineral were used as gifts by diplomats traveling to distant countries to improve relations between states.

The magical properties of lapis lazuli were also recognized by yogis. They believed that azure cleanses their aura of negativity. Immediately before meditation, yogis placed a pebble between the eyebrows (third eye area) and held it until they felt that the aura had cleared. Surprisingly, the color of the stone could change slightly during the process, which added to the yogis’ confidence in the correctness of their actions.

The magical characteristics of the mineral were also noted by astrologers who compose horoscopes. They argue that azure is the most acceptable color for journalists, managers, and psychologists, since it stimulates wisdom and allows you to make the right decision in a difficult situation. It will add new ideas to inventors and writers, and will help judicial officials make the only right decision.

Lapis lazuli stimulates mental activity and increases intellectual capabilities. Therefore, most astrologers recommend that students take a talisman from it with them to exams.

Among those for whom lapis lazuli is suitable are people with creative activities. The stone helps to achieve fame and improve abilities, so it is recommended to carry it with you to castings and public appearances.

Whose stone is lapis lazuli? Which zodiac sign does it suit best? Astrologers say that this is a stone of Venus and Uranus, and its properties will be useful to each sign. However, it should be used wisely. For example, Libra, Aquarius, Pisces and Aries can carry it with them all the time, since the energy of lapis lazuli talismans is in harmony with their own energy. It is better for other signs to use the mineral if necessary, since constant contact with it will not provide the expected benefits.

Medicinal properties

Since ancient times, lapis lazuli has been used to treat various ailments. For example, healers ground the stone into powder and gave it as an antidote to the bites of creeping reptiles. Modern medicine does not use the mineral, but some traditional healers still revere it, considering it healing. The properties of the stone, in their opinion, will be useful for people suffering from mental disorders, since it has a calming effect on the nervous system.

A talisman with lapis lazuli will not hurt expectant mothers either. Healers say that if a pregnant woman carries the mineral with her, she will definitely give birth to a beautiful and healthy baby. Constantly wearing such jewelry around the neck will help those suffering from skin diseases, diseases of the brain and lymphatic system.

The healing properties of lapis lazuli help the functioning of the endocrine system and have a beneficial effect on the throat, larynx and vocal cords. A talisman with a stone reduces blood pressure, relieves insomnia, improves blood circulation, and has a beneficial effect on the hearing organs.

It is recommended to treat eye infections with a pebble heated in warm water by applying it to inflamed areas. The water in which the stone has been is also considered medicinal – it is used for washing with inflammation of the eyes.

How to determine the authenticity of a stone at home

It is possible to reliably determine the authenticity of lapis lazuli only in a special laboratory, where employees can evaluate its composition and density. However, some craftsmen claim that some experiments carried out at home can also establish the authenticity of the mineral.

For example, you can test a crystal by dipping it in water of any temperature. Real lapis lazuli will be evenly covered with moisture, while a fake lapis lazuli will be dotted with small droplets of liquid.

There is another way to test the mineral at home. True, it is not so harmless – the procedure is performed using fire. True lapis lazuli is naturally highly fire resistant. There is even a legend that the stone withstood constant heat from fire for 10 days. A fake won’t last even a few hours.

Don’t forget about the simplest way to determine authenticity—visually. The fact is that real lapis lazuli reveals its greatness only in the sun’s rays, while a fake will look great in any light.