Lapis Lazuli – The stone of wisdom and serenity

Lapis lazuli has been valued since ancient times for its exceptional properties that are believed to promote health, calmness, and tranquility. It is considered an excellent source of energy necessary for spiritual development, aiding in achieving deep focus during meditation, and facilitating contact with spiritual guides. It is referred to as the stone of wisdom, helping in the acquisition of new knowledge, self-development, self-acceptance, and increasing self-confidence.

Due to its unique dark blue color, it was regarded as the stone of rulers and gods in the oldest civilizations of the world, such as Mesopotamia, Sumer, and Egypt. Ornaments, sculptures, amulets, and weapon decorations made from lapis lazuli have been found in ancient royal tombs. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a pigment to obtain ultramarine – a blue pigment with exceptional color depth. Lapis lazuli was used to create inlays, wall mosaics, and column claddings.

Lapis lazuli is a combination of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite. The substance that gives it its beautiful color is sulfur. The best quality stones are uniformly colored, while in others, the color typically appears in the form of stripes or spots. The largest deposits of lapis lazuli are in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, where it has been mined for over six thousand years. The mineral is also extracted in Chile, South Africa, Iran, Thailand, Russia, and some islands of Greece.

Lapis lazuli is sensitive to strong pressure and high temperatures, and is adversely affected by hot baths and cleaning agents.

The gold ring with lapis lazuli presented at the online jewelry auction is an example of exceptionally interesting Italian design from the early 21st century.