16.55 Ct. Cabochon Lapis from Afghanistan

From the high plateaus of Afghanistan to the bench of your jeweler, this lapis tells a story that begins in deep time, when mineral rich veins formed beneath an ancient landscape, and travels through hands that understand how to reveal its soul. Our partners in Afghanistan carefully extract lapis from historical deposits that have supplied artisans and emperors for millennia, and The Natural Gemstone Company ensures each stone is vetted and honored for its origin and character. Lapis has been prized across cultures for its intense blue, a color associated with the heavens, with wisdom, and with ceremonial splendor, and this particular cabochon carries those layers of meaning with quiet confidence. When I imagine the miners who first uncovered this piece, and the cutters and polishers who coaxed the deep blue to life, I think of a chain of care that transforms raw earth into an object of personal significance, and I feel certain that a gem with such provenance will bring depth and story to any custom jewelry project.

This is a beautiful opaque 16.55 carat oval blue lapis, measuring 20.11 by 15.19 by 6.82 mm, shaped as a classic cabochon, with vivid color intensity and an excellent polish, and importantly, no enhancement, a natural example of Afghanistan lapis at its purest. The oval outline and generous size make it an immediate focal point, while the smooth domed surface of the cabochon cut allows those saturated ultramarine tones to glow uniformly under any light. The polish is mirror like, enabling light to play across the dome and reveal subtle variations and character lines that are unique to this stone. The absence of treatments means you are presenting a gem in its authentic state, a consideration that matters deeply to collectors, designers, and anyone commissioning an heirloom piece. Because lapis is often admired for both color and texture, this cabochon balances a bold, even blue with small natural inclusions that serve as fingerprints of its geological journey, evidence that it is a genuine, individually storied treasure.

For custom jewelry, this stone is outstanding, the size and proportions are ideal for a wide range of designs, from commanding statement rings to elegant pendants and unique signet pieces, and the oval cabochon shape lends itself to classic mounting choices and contemporary interpretations alike. As a ring centerpiece the dimensions allow for a design that sits proudly on the finger without overwhelming comfort, a setting that can be shaped as a low bezel to protect the dome, or a more sculptural openwork gallery that showcases the stone from the side. For pendants, the stone reads beautifully both close to the collarbone and as a longer pendant, its oval silhouette working seamlessly with both vertical and horizontal bails. Jewelry designers will appreciate the cabochon profile for its ability to be set with secure bezels, mixed metal frames, or halo accents that include small diamonds, white sapphires, or warm accent stones to play against the rich blue. The stone also adapts to gender neutral and masculine designs, serving as a refined signet or cufflink element that carries presence without ostentation. Because the lapis is untreated and of a meaningful carat weight, it can be the anchor of a bespoke commission intended to become an heirloom, a daily talisman, or a gallery worthy showpiece.

From the mine to the finished jewel, the making of a custom piece around this lapis is a conversation between material, maker, and wearer, and The Natural Gemstone Company stands ready to help shape that dialogue into a crafted reality. Our gem specialists can advise on metal choices that will best complement the blue, for example warm yellow or rose gold to add contrast and depth, or white gold and platinum to emphasize cool clarity, and we can recommend setting styles that protect the cabochon while allowing its polish and color to be the star. The photos included show how the oval sits on the hand as a reference for scale and presence, an important consideration when visualizing the final design, and we encourage you to imagine this stone as the heart of a design that reflects personal narrative and daily life. If you seek a piece that honors history, geology, and fine workmanship, this Afghanistan lapis cabochon is a rare, naturally vivid example that will translate eloquently into custom jewelry. Contact The Natural Gemstone Company to discuss design options, commissioning timelines, and how we can guide the transformation of this singular lapis into a bespoke jewel that carries its origin forward into your story.