People have used Lapis Lazuli in jewelry pieces since ancient times, and it remains popular even today.
Many value this semi-precious stone due to its beautiful deep blue color, and others use it for intarsia inlays and pigments for paintings and cosmetics. Nonetheless, jewelry pieces such as blue Lapis earrings and rings are its primary use nowadays, where its vintage style hardly goes out of trend.
Lapis Lazuli History
Lapis Lazuli is an ancient natural gemstone. Archeologists have found beads, carvings, artifacts, and jewelry with this stone at numerous historical sites, with some dating as far back as 6,000 BC. Its use most likely originated in Afghanistan, the world’s leading source since ancient times, and spread throughout the Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
The gemstones referred to as sapphirus in ancient writings, which is “blue stone” in Latin, may have been pieces of lapis lazuli, as sapphire wasn’t known in the Middle East before the Roman Empire came about. Today, many people still use it in jewelry and decorative objects.
The Natural Look of Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli is a blue metamorphic rock that’s considered a natural gemstone. It mainly consists of three minerals: lazurite, pyrite, and calcite. It has been a highly valued stone since antiquity for its beautiful yet intense deep blue color.
Among its minerals, the one that provides Lapis Lazuli with its blue hue is the lazurite. Meanwhile, the pyrite gives it some sparkling bits of gold. This mineral isn’t too abundant, as in most cases, it’s dispersed throughout the semi-precious stone in various quantities.
On the other hand, calcite may give it some white marks and lines that shouldn’t be visible to the naked eye unless it’s present in excessive quantities. In that case, the Lapis Lazuli might appear worn out due to the lack of its deep and vibrant color. While some people might like the look of such a stone, most people mainly regard it as a negative characteristic.
Top-grade lapis lazuli doesn’t have visible calcite and contains little to no pyrite. Those that contain high amounts of either mineral tend to fetch lower prices.
The Meaning Behind the Stone
Although the meaning of Lapis Lazuli varies depending on the culture, most associate it with truth, wisdom, strength, courage, and royalty. Sumerians thought that the spirit of their gods resided in the stone. For ancient Egyptians, it represented the night sky.
Since ancient times, many cultures have believed that wearing Lapis Lazuli could ward off evil. In ancient Egypt, people thought it had healing properties, so they powdered it and wore it around the eyes to enhance their eyesight.
Hindu tradition links this natural gemstone to the third eye or the brow chakra. This eye, which represents intuition and intellect, is said to influence the perceptive organs, causing anxiety, skin disorders, and headaches when the chakra becomes imbalanced.
In Feng Shui, Lapis Lazuli jewelry with vivid gold specks may draw prosperity and wealth to the wearer. This deep blue stone may also bring protective energies to the home while neutralizing the negative ones present.
Also, some ayurvedic practices suggest wearing a Lapis Lazuli necklace as they think that it can heal the throat and larynx.
Nowadays, some people believe that the air of truth and wisdom that a Lapis Lazuli provides can improve communication. If you ever find yourself at a loss, consider wearing silver earrings with Lapis Lazuli to find the words you need and push through.
Styling Lapiz Lazuli Earrings
How do you properly wear and style blue Lapis earrings?
It primarily depends on its design and materials. Nonetheless, Lapis silver earrings offer a chic street look. The icy color of the silver against the gorgeous deep blue gemstone looks modern and makes it stand out significantly more.
If you want to define your style further with this vintage jewelry, try to keep your outfit simple. After all, Lapis silver earrings can bring life to most outfits. Dresses and solid tops with vivid colors are the perfect canvas for this natural gemstone. Other metallic hues such as gold and silver also go incredibly well with it.
Furthermore, the vintage boho-chic style and lapis lazuli still pop off together. If you wear big and bold silver earrings with lapis along with a maxi dress, you can tie your hair in a ponytail or do an updo. You want to highlight your gorgeous earrings, so don’t let your tresses get in the way. This vintage style is even more effective if you choose to wear a statement necklace.
Dangling lapis silver earrings for women with fuller checks can help them slim their faces as well, enhancing their natural beauty. It’s also a good idea to pair it with other light-colored natural stone jewelry such as moonstone and rose quartz. A pearl necklace works splendidly, but it isn’t a good pair for casual looks.
When it comes to formal events, you may want to tone down the blue Lapis earrings size. It would also be a good idea to avoid colors that might clash with the hue of the earrings. Overall, the classic look of a silver earring with Lapis is ideal for those looking to sport simple yet interesting jewelry designs.
Caring for Blue Lapis Earrings
Lapis Lazuli isn’t a hard natural stone. It’s between five and six on the Mohs hardness scale, so it can scratch with ease if you don’t take proper care with it. Fortunately, blue Lapis earrings are out of the way, and it’s hard to damage them while you’re wearing them.
When you take them off, you can put them away in a soft surfaced encasing to avoid chipping. It would also be helpful not to use any chemical around it, even if it’s a specialized product designed to clean jewelry.
If you want to clean your Lapis Lazuli earrings, carefully wipe them with a soft cloth dipped in warm water and use mild dish soap. However, dry them immediately afterward as this stone is porous.
The Bottom Line
Lapis Lazuli is a unique natural stone that stands out from the rest due to its gorgeous blue color and gold specks. It has significant meaning in numerous cultures, and many connect the stone with virtues such as truth, wisdom, courage, strength, and royalty. Nowadays, Lapis Lazuli is present primarily in jewelry.
Silver earrings with Lapis are excellent vintage jewelry pieces that go well with almost every light-colored simple outfit you can think of. They’re also great for formal events as they can easily complement your beauty, so get yourself a pair and take them out!