Gem of the Week: Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is often connected with higher thinking and activating mental ability. It's also said that Lapis Lazuli helps induce good judgment and wisdom. This makes the stone especially good for business professionals and lawyers. Lapis Lazuli also helps with the healing of the throat and vocal chords. Color: Brilliant Blue sometimes with flecks or stripes of gold.

     

Lapis Lazuli has been prized throughout history for it's brilliant, bluer-than-blue color. Lapis Lazuli's name comes from a mix of Latin, Arabic, and Persian. The name has inspired words to form in eight languages that relate to the color of the stone. Besides being used for jewelry, decorative weaponry, carving and architecture, Lapis Lazuli has made its name for the intense dye Ultramarine that can only be made by using the pigments of the stone. This dye has been used in paints that the great Renaissance and Baroque painters Masaccio, Perugino, Titian, and Vermeer. The paint would be used in frescoes decorating the walls of basilicas, chapels, and churches. Often, because of the value of the paint, Ultramarine would be used exclusively for the Virgin Mary's clothing as blue was seen as her patron color.