Lapis Lazuli is one of the oldest and most revered stones in human history. A deep, celestial blue that is rich and intense, often flecked with gold pyrite inclusions that catch the light like stars against a night sky. It is a stone that has been prized across civilisations for thousands of years. Ground into pigment, it became the ultramarine blue of Renaissance painting. Carved and inlaid, it adorned the burial mask of Tutankhamun and the jewellery of ancient Mesopotamia. It is a stone with a presence that is immediate and ancient in equal measure.
Lapis Lazuli is a metamorphic rock composed primarily of lazurite, with calcite, pyrite, and other minerals contributing to its characteristic colour and texture. The finest stones come from the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, where they have been mined for over six thousand years. It is associated with the third eye and throat chakras, a pairing that gives it a particular quality among healing stones: it is said to support both inner vision and the ability to speak one’s truth with clarity and confidence. It is considered a stone of wisdom, truth, and self-knowledge, thought to stimulate the higher mind, encourage honest communication, and support those seeking deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. It carries a calm, expansive energy, and has long been associated with royalty, honour, and the pursuit of knowledge.
This pendant features a faceted Lapis Lazuli teardrop, its cut drawing out the full depth of the stone’s colour and allowing light to move across its surface with a rich, luminous intensity. Wire wrapped by hand in gold vermeil, the setting follows the natural contours of the stone, holding it securely while allowing its full face to remain visible. A single gold vermeil accent bead sits within the wrap, a small, precise detail that brings warmth and finish to the piece. The warm gold of the vermeil sits in considered contrast to the deep blue of the Lapis, a pairing that is both striking and timeless.
Finished on an 18 inch gold vermeil satellite chain; a fine chain with tiny gold vermeil microbeads spaced along its length, echoing the bead detail of the pendant and giving the necklace a considered coherence from chain to stone. The chain is plated with 1 micron of 18K gold with an anti-tarnish finish, designed to hold its colour with wear.
Handcrafted at Rachel Hartley Atelier. Arrives gift-ready.
Curious about Lapis Lazuli? Discover more about the stone on our sister website, Hart, Body & Soul.
