6.93 Ct.Tw.Total Carat Weight Lapis Pair from Afghanistan

Lapis lazuli has been treasured for millennia, a stone whose deep blue has marked the passages of human history from the tombs of pharaohs to the painted altarpieces of Renaissance masters. When ancient artisans ground the purest lapis into ultramarine pigment, they created a color that was reserved for the most sacred and the most revered of commissions. That same sense of reverence lives on when one holds a pair like this, a pair whose color speaks of high hills and long trade routes, of miners and lapidaries whose craft connects past and present. The Natural Gemstone Company is honored to present these stones as an invitation to own a fragment of that lineage, each stone a quiet ambassador of tradition that wears well with both ceremony and daily grace. To cradle a piece of lapis is to touch an echo of antiquity, a connection to cultures that chose blue to signify the heavens, the nobility, and the mysteries of the sea.

These two cushion shape lapis weigh 3.43 carats and 3.50 carats respectively, each cut in a tablet style that emphasizes surface color and presence, rather than internal light play. The dimensions measure 12.11 x 10.20 x 2.58 mm for the first stone, and 12.14 x 10.19 x 2.48 mm for the companion, dimensions that make them ideally matched for a symmetrical pair in earrings or classic studs. Their vivid color intensity is a hallmark of well sourced Afghan lapis, a blue that reads as both deep and luminous depending on the light, and the excellent polish gives each tablet a soft sheen that invites touch. These stones are opaque by nature, a quality that reinforces their saturated hue and their role as a color rather than a window. Small pyrite specks may be present, a shimmering signature that speaks to natural formation, while the absence of enhancement assures that the hue you see is precisely the hue that came from the mine. Origin Afghanistan, no enhancement, these are stones that have traveled from storied deposits to refined hands.

The cushion shape and tablet cut together offer a timeless language for design that transcends trends, a language that jewelers have used for centuries to create pieces that endure. The rounded corners of the cushion shape soften the impact of the blue, creating an elegance that is at once stately and approachable, perfect for antique inspired settings as well as for modern minimalism. In a bezel setting these tablets will sit with dignified stability, in a prong setting they will present a flat, jewel like plane of color that commands attention, and when set as a matched pair they bring balance and harmony to the face. Imagine them as classic drop earrings paired with warm gold, or as refined cufflinks for a tailored look, or alternately mounted side by side as a small statement pendant, the possibilities are grounded in designs that celebrate lineage and longevity. These stones will respond to thoughtful design with the calm assurance of a gem that is not chasing fashions but rather embodying a continuous aesthetic.

When considering acquisition, collectors and connoisseurs alike value provenance, condition, and the integrity of the gem. The Natural Gemstone Company has provided these lapis with clear details regarding carat weights, dimensions, cut, polish, and origin, and with the important confirmation that there has been no enhancement. Care for lapis remains simple and appropriate for its makeup, avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals, clean gently with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, and store apart from harder stones like diamonds that could mar the polished tablet face. For those who seek to create an heirloom, these paired tablets offer a foundation that will wear well across generations, a jewel language rich in history and restrained elegance. We welcome inquiries about matching settings, custom design services, and secure shipping options, and we stand ready to assist with any further details required to make a considered acquisition. Owning these Afghan lapis is to invite a piece of ancient color into the present, a choice that honors craftsmanship, heritage, and enduring beauty.