Lapis, or lapis lazuli, is not really a gemstone, but a rock composed of several substances, primarily lazurite. Lapis may also include calcite and pyrite, which is also known as "Fool's Gold." Stones can be pure deep indigo to grayish blue, or they can have white flecks (calcite) or gold (pyrite) sprinkled throughout. Lapis is not a precious stone, so it's usually found in less expensive jewelry, but proper care is vital to keep it looking new.
Hardness
On hardness and scratch resistance, lapis rates a 5 or 6 on the 10-point Mohs Scale that jewelers use. In contrast, diamonds are a 10. Lapis chips fairly easily, so it's safest in earrings, brooches and pendants, rather than in rings or bracelets that get a lot more wear and tear. It's not typically suited to jewelry you'd wear every day unless it's inlaid in the setting and somewhat protected from scratching.
Cleaning
Using mild soap and warm water applied with a soft baby's toothbrush is the best way to clean lapis. Don't soak lapis jewelry for extended periods in any liquid because it permeates and softens the stone. Never place lapis in an ultrasonic cleaner with a commercial cleaning solution. Also, avoid exposing lapis to harsh chemicals like bleach, acetone, ammonia or turpentine because they can destroy any protective coating it has and make it look dull or can even pit the stone.
Storage
Because lapis is so easily scratched, store it separately in a soft cloth bag or in an individual compartment of a cloth-lined jewelry case.
Value
Lapis that's intensely blue with purple undertones is the most prized and valuable. Stones with flecks of white calcite, sometimes called "denim lapis," are least valuable. Some collectors think stones with hints of golden pyrite are the real treasures. Lapis can be dyed to a more vivid blue, but that doesn't increase its value. Jasper can also be dyed to look like lapis.
Origins
The largest lapis deposits have always been found in Afghanistan, and that country remains the largest producer and exporter, but lapis of lesser quality is also found in Siberia and Myanmar and in the Americas in Canada, Argentina, Chile and the United States.
History
Lapis lazuli was prized and traded thousands of years before the birth of Christ in the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Roman civilizations. The name comes from a Persian word, "lazhward," meaning blue stone, or from the Latin word "lapis," which means stone, and "azul," which is Arabic for blue. Besides jewelry, lapis has been used throughout the ages for carvings, as decorative inlays in furniture and metalwork, and ground into powder for makeup and paint whose color became known as "ultramarine."
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