Lapis
lazuli makes great jewelry for all occasions. It can be appropriate
for work, play, and evenings out.
Lapis
lazuli
looks great set in white or yellow gold, silver, and even copper. It also looks
great alone. Strands of beads and drilled pieces fashioned into chandelier
earrings and pendants are also fashionable and popular.
Most people have been somewhat familiar with
this gem since they were children... but what do you know about it? You probably
know that it's a gemstone, it's exotic, it's a pretty blue color, and it's
opaque.
Most people do not know that it is one of the
earliest gems mined commercially. Records of mining and trading of this gem date
back more than 6500 years. It seems to have been used as ornamentation before
history was being recorded.
Archeological digs show that it was used in
various ways by the Babylonian,
Assyrians, and other ancient cultures. It was later used in ancient Egypt as
amulets, scarabs, bowls, cups, and wall tiles. It was also ground up and used as
a coloring agent.
Lapis-Lazuli was used by Cleopatra as eye
shadow.
Afghanistan
has always been the world's premier producer, primarily from Badakhshan province
in the north-east corner of the country. This is rugged Hindu-Kush territory,
bordering Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan.
It was an important location on the fabled
silk road as a source of gems. The writings of Marco Polo attest to the
importance of this location.
Lapis
lazuli is a rock (formed from more than one mineral). The primary mineral in the
mix is lazurite. It usually also contains calcite and sodalite. It occurs in
crystalline marble due to "contact
metamorphism."
The
most desired color is intense blue, possibly flecked with pyrite (fool's gold).
Absence, or minimization, of white calcite veins is also desirable.
I recently purchased a couple of kilos of
this gem. It was mined in Badakhshan
province by ethnic Tajiks who live there. I had the material cut into cabochons
(cabs) and beads before it was shipped to me. The shipment consists of hundreds
of premium quality cabs..
The pieces offer a good mix of sizes and
shapes for jewelry. Most are domed cabs, while some are faceted cabs. The photo
above was taken as I inspected the shipment. The quarter is included to provide
size perspective.
A few large cabs (40 x 30 mm), donut shapes,
balls, and an egg shaped piece were also included for additional variety..
All
is now for sale. These gems will make fine custom jewelry. Because I went
directly to the source, my price to you is a fraction of what wholesale dealers
in Tucson were asking me.
Before
I begin offering these pieces to custom jewelry makers, rock and gem shops, book
stores and the like, I am offering you first chance. Minimum order is $25 for
25 carats of jewelry size mixed cabs.
A Google search using the search box below
and the keyword phrase lapis jewelry (or similar keywords) will show you a number
of links and ads that prove my price cannot be duplicated..
Gem Industry News...
Cullinan blue diamond to be auctioned
Petra Diamonds Limited Important Cullinan blue diamond to
be auctioned by Sotheby's
Petra Diamonds is pleased to announce that the centrepiece of the upcoming
Sotheby's sale of Magnificent Jewels will be an important and rare fancy vivid
blue, internally flawless, cushion-shaped diamond weighing 7.03 carats.
The diamond was cut from the 26.58 carat rough stone discovered in 2008 at Petra
Diamonds' historic Cullinan diamond mine in South Africa. The pre-sale
estimate is US$5.8-8.5 million and the buyer will have the honour of naming the
diamond.
At a weight of 7.03 carats, the diamond ranks among the most important blue
diamonds ever to be offered for sale by Sotheby's. The Gemological
Institute of America (GIA) has graded the stone as fancy vivid blue in colour
and internally flawless in clarity, the highest possible grading for a blue
diamond. Blue diamonds, which are among the rarest of all gems, owe their
colour to the presence of the chemical element boron during the stone's
formation. The Cullinan mine is the world's most consistently reliable
source of blue diamonds and this stone is a perfect example of Cullinan diamonds
at their best.
A marketing programme to exhibit the diamond in Hong Kong, Paris, New York
and London has been arranged by Sotheby's ahead of the sale to be held at the
Beau-Rivage Hotel in Geneva on Tuesday, 12 May 2009.
Commenting on the fancy vivid blue diamond, Johan Dippenaar, CEO of Petra
Diamonds, commented: "This fancy vivid blue, flawless diamond is a
very rare and unique gem. Its quality is enhanced by its Cullinan origins,
a mine that has produced some of the world's most famous diamonds. Given
its distinguished heritage, it is fitting that Sotheby's should further
establish its legacy by marketing the gem as the cornerstone of its exclusive
‘Magnificent Jewels' collection in Geneva."
David Bennett, Chairman, Europe & the Middle East, Sotheby's
International Jewellery Department, said: "Blue diamonds are among
the rarest of all nature's treasures and it is very exciting to have such a fine
example as the centrepiece of our forthcoming Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale.
This stone certainly ranks among the most important blue diamonds that I have
had the privilege of offering for sale in my career at Sotheby's and what makes
it particularly special for us, is that we've been able to follow its production
from the initial rough state through the various stages of its cutting and
polishing."
Jewelry
Dealers
From a supply perspective, now is the time to replenish your depleted inventory.
If you have some money to invest in inventory - there are deals to be had.
And you should have some cash. After all, that depleted inventory was sales.
From a sales perspective, gift giving occasions have not disappeared. Birthdays,
anniversaries, and many other reasons to give nice jewelry at a great price just
keep on coming. Your customers (and their friends) need what you offer!
A market where people perceive they should spend less fits right into your
marketing strategy...
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mine is the world's most consistently reliable
source of blue diamonds and this stone is a perfect example of Cullinan diamonds
at their best. 
