Lapis Lazuli is a blue, greenish blue or purple blue rock with complex mixture of several minerals. It is also called lazurite in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. It is extensively used for making beads, rings, earrings and necklaces.
Lapis Lazuli is known for its royal blue color which is the most expensive blue stone of all. The most pleasuring color of lapis lazuli comes from Afghanistan (middle-east), popularly known as Afghan blue in trade. In Afghanistan several mosques walls are decorated with this stone. Argentinian lapis lazuli is also of a high quality. A pale blue variety occurs in the former USSR and in Chile Lapis lazuli from the USA is a darker shade of blue; Canadian specimens are lighter blue.
The structure of lapis lazuli includes veins of calcite (generally white in color) and yellow metallic pyrite crystals. Price of a lapis lazuli can be determined by its natural royal blue color, with or without crystals of calcite and pyrite. Lapis Lazuli barely having any crystals / veins of calcite but having crystals / veins of pyrite generally has a higher price. No price for a stone is too much when it catches the eye.
Lapis Lazuli has been imitated by dyed sodalite, stained jasper, and by paste with inclusions of copper. Imitations lapis lazuli is also produced by Pierre Gilson in France, and has a very similar composition to natural lapis lazuli.
Meaning: It is believed that lapis is one of the most powerful stones; it increases awareness, creativity, the skeletal system, and thyroid, unlocks mysteries, and helps to open one's mind. It has been worn in the belief that it will protect the wearer from evil.
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Jewellery is one of the most bought products online. An estimated $1 billion USD of diamonds are bought annually via the Internet. Over 40 million people use the Internet to trade!
In Germany, the garland of ambers is hung around the necks of the infants, so that their teeth might come out without much trouble.
In Turkey, people fix a piece of amber in the hubble-bubble, dogged by an age old belief that the presence of the jewel would destroy all the germs and no disease would spread, even after many have dragged their puffs from it.
In Greece, people think if wine is poured into the cups made of amethyst, one does not get drunk after drinking that.
In Rome, a talisman having coral pieces is considered very auspicious to quell the bad spells of evil look. The Romans were in the habit of hanging chains made of ancient coral pieces from the cradle of the infants to protect them from evil effects.
In China, people wear rings studded with tiny conch or oyster shells as they believe it cures all aches such as stomach ache, worms and like.
In India, pendants made of silver and studded with pearls are hung from the necks of the children to save them from any bad effects.
Greeks still believe, if women wear blue sapphires then no sense of immorality would pollute their mind nor can any fear of the supernatural can trouble them.
The Pope Innocent III had circulated an order asking all the priests wear blue sapphire, so that morality can be strengthened.
It is said about turquoise, that when the stone changes its color into yellow, it actually signals bad times to the person who wears it.
It is believed that a turquoise gifted to a friend or a lover turns his or her life into one of happiness and good luck.
Jewellery is one of the most bought products online. An estimated $1 billion USD of diamonds are bought annually via the Internet. Over 40 million people use the Internet to trade!