3.58 Ct. Lapis from Afghanistan

This lapis begins its story deep within the ancient mountain ranges of Afghanistan, where layers of geological time met the alchemy of earth to create a stone that has been prized across civilizations. From the moment our trusted miners first uncovered the rough material, there was an unmistakable quality to this piece. The color spoke of a sky at midnight, a vivid blue that seemed to hold depth and calm in equal measure. The Natural Gemstone Company sources stones from long standing relationships with local diggers, people who understand how to read the rock and who work with care to protect the surrounding environment and the communities that depend on the land. This lapis arrived as a rough fragment that already suggested an elegant form, and our team recognized the potential immediately. We documented its origin, confirmed the lack of treatments, and prepared it for the careful journey from raw stone to finished gem.

The transformation from rough to the finished 3.58 carat cushion shaped gem is a patient process, a collaboration between the stone and the hand that shapes it. Our lapis was cut in a tablet style, a low dome with a broad, flat face that allows the vivid blue to present uninterrupted, as if the surface itself were a polished piece of the Afghan sky. The cutter spent hours at the wheel, considering the natural planes and the small, characteristic pyrite flecks that give lapis its historic sparkle. Those golden inclusions are a signature of genuine lapis, a reminder that this is a mineral born of complex geological processes. The cutter oriented the stone to showcase the deepest saturation while keeping the cushion outline balanced and wearable, selecting dimensions of 12.13 x 10.16 x 2.90 mm to create a proportion that reads as elegant and substantial. The tablet cut emphasizes the gem body color, and the cushion silhouette gives it a timeless, versatile profile that suits both contemporary and traditional jewelry designs.

Polishing this lapis to an excellent finish is an art in its own right, one that The Natural Gemstone Company has cultivated through years of experience. The surface was smoothed with progressively finer abrasives until the face achieved a mirror like polish, a sheen that allows the color to glow from within rather than simply reflect light. The result is a tactile gem that feels warm to the touch, an opaque stone that invites the eye to linger on its even, vivid blue field and to discover the tiny pyrite stars that punctuate the surface. Because this lapis is untreated, there is a purity to its appearance that collectors and designers value, a confidence that what you see is nature as it was formed, not an altered version designed to impress at first glance. The weight of 3.58 carat sits comfortably between daintiness and presence, providing a focal point for a ring, a pendant, or a bespoke piece that will carry its origin story forward each time it is worn.

To wear this lapis is to hold a piece of history and geography close. Afghanistan has been a source of lapis for thousands of years, supplying the ultramarine pigment that inspired painters and the royal jewelry that adorned ancient courts. That lineage of use and admiration passes to the new owner, who will carry a gem that has traversed mountains, workshops, and the careful hands of artisans to arrive ready for setting. At The Natural Gemstone Company we believe in preserving and narrating that journey, providing detailed provenance and the honest technical facts, including the measurement of 12.13 x 10.16 x 2.90 mm, the tablet cut, vivid color intensity, excellent polish, the cushion shape, the weight of 3.58 carat, the opaque nature, and the absence of enhancements. This lapis is a conversation starter, a wearable landscape, and a testament to the skill of those who coaxed beauty from rough stone. For the collector who values authenticity, and for the designer who seeks a stone with both story and presence, this cushion tablet lapis from Afghanistan is a rare and resonant choice.