Ratna Sagar Jewels - All Types of Wholesale Gemstone Beads

Lapis lazuli is popularly called as the lazuli gemstone, for short. The deep blue aquamarine item is a part of semi-precious collection that adorns much of Greek and Roman architecture. Loved for its antiquated appearance, Lazuli gemstone gained massive fan following in the medieval ages. The connoisseurs of the lapis stone include the likes of King Tutatankamum, Queen Cleopatra, Persian kings, British crown and Indian maharajas. The blue mottled stone is now widely used in 7-star restaurants, jewellery and in spiritual healing.

How to identify a Lapis gemstone
The name of the stone is derived from Latin word for ‘deep blue’. The present name is a distorted version of the Persian word which also means ‘deep blue sky’. Lapis gemstone occurs naturally in the mines of France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Persia and India. The most vibrant shade of the lazuli gemstone is azure which you see on the jersey of the Italian soccer team. It is also called ‘Denim stone’ for its brusque physical form.
Experts who are familiar with lazuli recommend the following tips which you must verify the following before buying.

• Hardness: Lapis gemstone is a relatively softer rock than other semi-precious items. It scores 6.5 or less on a Mohs scale.
• Appearance:It has a mottled white appearance owing to the presence of the calcite and brassy pyrite. It has a compact structure and is often unbreakable under stress.
• Similarity: Since it is a metamorphosed rock like marble, lazuli gemstone has similar properties like it. 
• Quality:Highest quality of lapis stone won’t reveal any flecks on the surface. The cheaper versions are often accompanied by the golden mottles of pyrites.

Is lapis a rock or a crystal?
Lapis gemstone is a rock. It is wrongly sold as a crystal in some parts of the world. The major constituent of the lazuli is Lazurite. The other constituents are diopside, enstatite, nosean, mica, hornblende and hauynite.

Lapis Lazuli: The Redemption Stone
Lapis Gemstone Beadsalways in demand. The celestial blue hue of the stone is regarded as a source of redemption. It is the symbol of royalty, wisdom and truth. Lapis stone is recommended in the following circumstances.

• Quest for love and glory
• Renewed zeal to pursue professional goals
• Seek promotion at work
• Birth of a child

It is a redemption stone owing to its ‘faithful’ entrustment as the Fifth stone over the breastplate of the High Priest of the Israelites.  It is recommended to the individuals involved in high-office professions. Like:

• Law makers
• Doctors
• Psychologists
• CEOs
• Sports managers

It is also adorned by hyper-active men, women living constantly under public eye and writers.
Sources:
Huge quantities of lapis gemstone were once mined from the Koccha River Valley in Afghanistan. It is one of the oldest known stone mines in the world dating back to over 6000 years. Other prominent sites of extraction are:

• Andes Mountain, Chile
• Canada
• Italy
• India
• Argentina
• USA
• Angola
• Siberia