Lapis Gemstone

 Lapis is a gemstone that is midnight blue in color and usually has speckles of pyrite throughout.  Popular for artisans to use in handmade jewelry.  The beads pictured are faceted 8mm rounds (you can see the pyrite within) and from my own jewelry making supplies. 

"Lapis lazuli is a gemstone of the kind that might have come straight out of the Arabian Nights: a deep blue with golden inclusions of pyrites which shimmer like little stars" (International Colored Gemstone Association)

This gemstone has a long and fruitful history of being adorned in art historical pieces from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome (ICGA).

"Lapis lazuli is regarded by many people around the world as the stone of friendship and truth. The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly." (ICGA)

Below is a sneak peek of a Lapis pendant that was created with solid sterling silver wire and will be for sale in my Etsy shop soon.