A lapis lazuli vide poche / Good conditionLapis (short for lapis lazuli) is a deep-blue semi-precious metamorphic rock prized since antiquity for its vibrant color. It is composed primarily of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite. Historically ground into "ultramarine" pigment for Renaissance art, it is now widely used in jewelry, carvings, and crystal healing. Wikipedia +6Key CharacteristicsAppearance: Features an intense royal blue color, often mottled with white calcite veins and shimmering gold flecks of pyrite.Hardness: Measures 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft and best suited for inlays, beads, and cabochons rather than heavy-wear rings. Wikipedia +4Historical and Cultural SignificanceAncient Uses: Valued by pharaohs and Cleopatra for cosmetics and amulets. It is notably featured in Tutankhamun's death mask.The "Stone of Kings": Symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and truth, making it popular in modern metaphysical practices and birthstone jewelry for December. Facebook·Crystal Castle +4Common EtymologiesThe word combines the medieval Latin lapis (meaning "stone") with lazuli (derived from the Persian lāžward, which also gives us the word "azure"). For more information on grades, mining locations in places like Afghanistan and Chile, or to view healing properties, you can consult the International Colored Gemstone Association or the GIA Lapis Lazuli GemGuide.