Home » categories » gemstones » Lapis Lazuli


Colour
  • Medium to dark, slightly greenish blue to purplish blue
  • Often contains metallic looking pyrite crystals and/or white to grey flecks of calcite inclusions
Clarity
  • Lapis Lazuli is generally opaque


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TREATMENTS
CUT
  • Dyeing: Lapis lazuli, which is naturally porous, is easily dyed to deepen the colour and give the stone a more uniform appearance
  • Paraffin coating or impregnation: this treatment sometimes follows dyeing in an attempt to seal the gem surface, continue to deepen the colour and help improve its polish
  • Oiling: some lapis lazuli may be treated with oil in an attempt to deepen its colour
  • Lapis Lazuli is generally cut in the form of cabochons or tablets
  • Carvings, seals and intaglios that have been fashioned by known artists



Care
  • cabochons, beads and these kinds of cuts wear well since they have no sharp edges to abrade
  • A soft damp cloth is ideal for cleaning the gem and because the gem is naturally porous
  • It should be kept away from substances that could permeate the gem's surface
  • Nail polish remover (acetone) and other chemicals my harm dyed lapis lazuli

Lapis lazuli that is naturally deep and uniformly blue in colour, is the most collectible form of the gem. Care must be taken to determine if the material has been dyed. If so, it is not considered collectible quality.
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