SEDAGEMS

Lapis Lazuli

This is  a  natural untreated bead strand from Afghanistan made from top grade material and well polished.The beads are very small but are top quality.

 Mohs scale 5 to 5.5

Weight 5.55 CTS APPROX

Size  1  MM APPROX.

Length   15. 5  inches app.

This strand is sent  twine strung but we would recommend re stringing

Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan  province of  Afghanistan for 6,500 years.

The finest color is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. There should be no white calcite veins and the pyrite inclusions should be small. Stones that contain much calcite at all or too much pyrite are not as valuable. Patches of pyrite are an important help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value.