16.78 Ct.Tw.Total Carat Weight Cabochon Lapis Pair from Afghanistan

This pair of cushion shape blue lapis presents a clear set of technical specifications for the discerning buyer, each stone weighing 8.09 carats and 8.69 carats respectively, with precise dimensions of 14.00 by 11.92 by 6.73 millimeters and 14.08 by 12.15 by 6.01 millimeters, each stone cut as a cabochon, opaque in body, vivid in color intensity, and finished with an excellent polish, enhancement status confirmed as none, origin Afghanistan, the pairing exhibits close symmetry in outline and hue which is essential for matched earring applications and matched set work, the slight disparity in weight and depth is typical of natural lapis material and is within the tolerances expected for hand cut cabochons, these stones are described and supplied by The Natural Gemstone Company.

From a material science perspective these lapis specimens are characterized by a dominant deep blue hue attributable to the lazurite component, their vivid color intensity indicates strong chroma with a mid to slightly dark tone that preserves saturation even under varied lighting, the lapis displays the diagnostic presence of pyrite flecking that is visible in the supplied images, these gold metallic inclusions confirm natural formation and add aesthetic contrast when distributed sparingly, negligible to moderate calcite veining is present and is largely obscured by the choice of cabochon orientation during cutting, the stones are uniformly opaque which is typical for high quality lapis from Afghanistan, color grading for lapis is based on hue purity, saturation, and evenness of color, these pieces score highly on hue purity and saturation, they maintain a consistent ultramarine to deep royal blue across the curved table, this uniformity is particularly valuable for matched pairs intended for symmetrical mounting.

The cabochon cut and cushion outline have been executed with attention to lapidary best practice, the cabochon profile is a smooth domed surface with balanced curvature that maximizes apparent color depth and minimizes visibility of internal heterogeneities, the cushion silhouette provides generous table area for viewing the color and pyrite accents while retaining strong structural thickness for secure bezel setting, the back facets or bases are finished to a flat or slightly convex state suitable for glue or bezel seating, during preforming the lapidary oriented the rough to align the most saturated color parallel to the dome, preforming and grinding stages employed progressively finer diamond abrasives to refine the shape, final smoothing used non abrasive compounds and a felt lap with cerium oxide or equivalent oxide polish to achieve the described excellent polish, the result is a high gloss surface that exhibits minimal but natural surface texture under magnification, edges are smoothly rolled to avoid stress points in metal work, the depth measurements of 6.73 millimeters and 6.01 millimeters indicate robust domes that will read deeply colored when set, these dimensions also confirm suitability for traditional jewelry settings without excessive lift from the mounting plane.

From a practical trade perspective these stones are ideal for matched earrings, a complementary pendant plus single earring combination, or bespoke matched pair applications where color continuity is a priority, the cushion cabochon shape lends itself to bezel settings which protect the stone perimeter and preserve the polished dome, prong settings are possible with custom seat work but require careful fitting due to the cabochon geometry, the untreated state confirmed as no enhancement enhances provenance and long term value, untreated Afghan lapis is highly sought after in specialist markets, care recommendations include avoidance of harsh acids, ultrasonic cleaners, and prolonged exposure to solvents, routine cleaning with a soft cloth and mild soap solution is sufficient, for clients requiring documentation or gemological reporting, The Natural Gemstone Company can provide detailed measurement verification, high resolution imaging, and assistance with custom mounting specifications, if you require exact pairing tolerances, complementary matching stones, or bespoke setting proposals our technical sales team is prepared to provide cut orientation diagrams, cabochon profiles, and mounting templates to facilitate precise bench work.