Lapis Lazuli Crystal

Lapis lazuli bracelets, pyramids, angels, trees and tea light holders. Five products in this collection. Most people start with the lapis lazuli bracelet (8mm); our lapis lazuli guide covers meaning, rashi and real vs fake.

About the stone

Lapis lazuli is a rock, not a single mineral. The blue is lazurite; the gold flecks are pyrite, not gold; the white veining is calcite. The proportions of those three are what make one piece look different from the next, and they are the reason no two pieces here match.

Most of the world's finest lapis comes from the Sar-e-Sang mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, where it has been worked for roughly six thousand years. Ground lapis was the source of ultramarine, the most expensive pigment in Renaissance painting — which is why the Virgin's robe is blue in so many paintings of that period. It is one of the few stones whose history is genuinely documented rather than asserted.

Expect calcite veining. A deep uniform blue with no white at all, sold cheaply, is usually dyed jasper or reconstituted stone rather than lapis.

Traditional associations

In crystal practice lapis is associated with the throat centre, with study and with clear speech, which is why it usually ends up on a desk or a writing table. That is the tradition it is sold in.

Care

Keep it out of water — the calcite in lapis is soft and reacts to acids, and prolonged water dulls the polish. Wipe with a soft dry cloth. Keep it away from perfume and cleaning sprays, and off a hot sunny windowsill for long periods.

Lapis Lazuli FAQs

How do I spot fake lapis lazuli?

Rub a hidden spot with a cotton swab and a little nail-polish remover; blue on the swab means dye. Real lapis usually shows white calcite and gold pyrite flecks. See our real vs fake lapis guide.

Is lapis lazuli a substitute for Neelam?

No. Neelam is blue sapphire, a different mineral. Some astrologers suggest lapis as an upratna for Shani; ask your astrologer.

Can lapis lazuli be worn every day?

Yes, with care. It is softer than quartz, so keep it away from water, perfume and knocks.

What this is, and what it isn't

Lapis lazuli is a natural rock of lazurite, pyrite and calcite. Crystals have a long place in tradition and in ritual practice, and that is the spirit in which we sell them. There is no peer-reviewed evidence that any stone treats, cures or prevents a medical condition, changes your finances, or alters the physical energy of a room. Nothing on this page is medical, psychological or financial advice.