Lapis Lazuli, the starry sky shrunken down into a precious gem.

While you still have the warm glow of the hot summer on your skin, invest in a little pick me up that will carry you through to the party season.

One of my favourite gemstones (actually, any gemstone that is ocean hued is guaranteed to be on my list of favourites), lapis is one of those stones that has a deeply luxurious feel that makes me think of warmer climes and exotic places.

This is a mini collection which I created with gemstones from my personal stash, so they are very limited in quantity.  

Since the earliest of times, lapis lazuli has been associated with strength and courage, royalty and wisdom, intellect and truth. From antiquity, lapis lazuli has been worn in the belief that it will ward off evil. In ancient Egypt, it was powdered and worn about the eyes to improve eyesight.

Lapis lazuli was also popular with artists who ground it down for its pigment. It was even used by Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel.

Lapis means stone in Latin and Lazuli comes from the medieval Latin word (borrowed from both Persian and Arabic) for sky or heaven. In Persian folklore and across the ancient shores of South America, the stone was said to be the starry sky shrunken down into a precious gem, perhaps already holding all the knowledge of the universe. In Islam, it was chosen to be a protector against the evil eye, and Buddhists too would turn to this stone as its soft healing energy paved the way to inner peace.

As usual there are many possibilities for customising these pieces. You can choose from sterling silver, 24 carat plated silver, goldfilled or solid gold. You can also request to have a different chain or even the same design with different gemstones. Just drop me a line and I can let you know the options.