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

This pair of cushion shaped lapis lazuli stones presents a combined balance of precise dimensions and strong color character. The individual weights are 3.65 carats and 3.71 carats respectively, with dimensions of 12.13 x 10.21 x 2.86 millimeters and 12.28 x 10.25 x 3.04 millimeters. Each stone is fashioned in a tablet cut that yields a low profile and a broad face, and each displays an opaque body with intense blue color intensity and an excellent polish. The surfaces exhibit a smooth, reflective finish that emphasizes the deep blue tone, while fine inclusions of pyrite provide natural metallic flecks that are consistent with high quality Afghan material. There has been no enhancement to these stones, and their origin is Afghanistan, noted for producing lapis with saturated ultramarine hues. The pair is well matched for color, size, and shape, making it suitable for matched settings such as earrings, a matched pendant pair, or a complementary two stone design.

From a gemological and practical perspective these specimens illustrate the attributes often sought in natural lapis lazuli, namely uniform intense coloration, stable opacity, and attractive natural inclusions. Afghan lapis is historically prized for its rich blue derived from the mineral lazurite, and the present pair shows that characteristic depth without reliance on dyeing or stabilization. Given the tablet cut and modest thickness, a protective bezel or secure gallery setting is recommended to reduce risk from knocks, and routine care should avoid prolonged exposure to acids, abrasive cleaners, and steam or ultrasonic cleaning. Clean gently with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, rinse carefully and dry immediately. The Natural Gemstone Company provides these lapis stones as natural, untreated material with full disclosure of origin and enhancement status, and we are available to supply further documentation or high resolution images upon request.