lapis lazuli has a history stretching, and it is one of the oldest gemstones from 7000 years and more, and it is a semiprecious gemstone.
This mineral is not just a gem but also the pigmentation produced by the crushed lapis lazuli is used for ultramarine.
Ancients used ultramarine in old paintings for the blue pigments that never fade. This stone represents truth and wisdom.
Generally, it comes from Afghanistan in a considerable quantity, but it is also found in Russia and the USA. The apex colour of a lapis lazuli is blue with a violet tone which should be intense.
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How Much Does Lapis Lazuli Cost?
Lapis lazuli is a very inexpensive gemstone, although it is a rare and excellent material. $1 per carat or less is the cost for those stones which belong to the lower grade. $100 to $150 per carat or more is the average cost of a super fine lapis lazuli.
The cost of lapis lazuli depends on the cut, carat weight, quality of its colour, and clarity. It has a brown or golden colour in its beautiful internal flecks, and it comes with deep blue coloured opaque.
The colours range from royal blue to deep indigo, light grayish blue to intense, and calcite to brassy gold and white. Lapis lazuli generally has inclusions in it.
Sources of lapis lazuli
The interesting commercial quantities of finest lapis lazuli are exported from only Pakistan and Afghanistan. The material that comes from Colorado is quite fine and limited.
● Pakistan: deep and solid blue color with a sprinkle of yellow and brassy pyrite inclusion with no spot of white calcite.
● Afghanistan: the world’s oldest operating mines in Badakhshan. A white matrix of large crystals and blocks of lapis lazuli is found there. This is the primary source of the finest Lapis in the world.
● California: grey-blue with a spot of white.
● Colorado: dark colour with a lot of pyrite and stringers in limestone. It is found in the mountains of the western part of the state.
Cost Influencing factors
Colour and inclusion:
The most cost influencing factor of lapis lazuli is its colour.
As we mentioned above, the apex tones are intense, deep, blue with violet. Compared to lower grade Lapis, the uniform and fine-grained specimens can attain a high and smooth polished surface.
Lapis with calcite inclusions cost more down, but there is much more demand among jewellery lovers and collectors for Lapis with pyrite inclusions.
The cost can be affected by the faceting artistry and polish quality of this stone.
Lapis lazuli, which has no visible calcite deposit and an evenly distributed colour, is the most expensive.
There is a greenish and dull tint on some Lapis because of so much pyrite. On the other hand, the calcite inclusion can give the stone a less attractive light blue colour.
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Clarity and Luster
As well as shape and cut, clarity and lustre are other influencing elements of the cost of Lapis lazuli. The polished Lapis has a slight lustre, but the primary Lapis is considered as a matte stone.
Most of the Lapis collectors agree on the fact that the Lapis have less calcite.
Some other hues and other blue shades of Lapis are also available, although most people know dark blue Lapis.
The determination of the colour of Lapis depends upon the different mineral combinations.
The presence of lazurite produces the royal blue colour and the pale blue colour occurs due to a mineral known as afghanite.
Grades
The trade grade of Lapis is based on the absence or presence of pyrite or calcite and the colour. According to the value of Lapis lazuli gemstones in today’s market are –
● Siberian or Russian – intensities blue. It surely contains pyrites and might contain few calcites.
● Afghan or Persian – medium-dark, slightly violetish blue, uniform, and intense colour. A slight possibility of pyrite, but there is no calcite.
● Chilean – the presence of calcite matrix. Spotted or tinged with green colour.
It might be described as a gemstone by using an adjective that represents a region or country, but the gemstone doesn’t need to belong to only that area.
So, for example, a Lapis might be sold as Chilean, which has many green patches and a lot of white calcite spots, but it doesn’t need to come from Chile.
Quality
The one that are Mined in Afghanistan are the first producer of this beautiful blue-coloured gemstone.
These mines had offered great quality stones and massive deposits for so many years. It has provided high-quality gems till now.
Chile, the US, Siberia, and Burma produce a little lesser quality gems. Less quantity of Lapis is produced by Pakistan, Mongolia, Russia, and Italy.
Using modern technology, some countries have enhanced the inferior quality of Lapis. To improve the uniformity of colour and intensity, they are stained or dyed gemstones.
Grade -wise cost
● $2000 per kilo is the cost of the highest quality or Grade-1 stone
● $1050 per kilo or $0.21 per carat is the cost of high quality or Grade-2 Lapis lazuli
● $300 per kilo is the cost of first quality Lapis
● $100 to $150 per kilo is the cost of Grade-3 stone
● $50 and $10 per kilo is the cost of Grade-10 and Grade-12 stones, respectively
Conclusion
It is easy to find Lapis Lazuli online. Only the drawback of online purchase is, you can’t try the jewellery before buying.
You have to make sure about the site that it should be trustable to avoid being scammed. You should buy from an online or local shop and check the setting, cutting, and colour.
You can prefer Amazon and Etsy online sites to buy Lapis. Rough stones are affordable. You should choose a Lapis Lazuli stone with minimal impurities, vivid blue colour, good size, and neat cut.
The maintenance of this gem is so easy. Using mild dish soap and warm water, you can clean your Lapis.
The Lapis has pores, and it can absorb water, so you have to dry it after washing. Store the Lapis from other gems to avoid scratching. Don’t use harsh chemicals on it because it could damage the quality and colour.
