Lapis Lazuli Meaning: The Blue Rock That Painted Masterpieces

Lapis lazuli meaning goes back further than almost any other stone. This deep blue rock with gold flecks has been mined for thousands of years, worn by pharaohs and ground up to paint the robes in Renaissance art. It's linked with truth and wisdom, and it's a wonderful thing to hold.

What lapis lazuli actually is

Lapis lazuli is a rock, not a single mineral. The blue comes mostly from lazurite. White streaks are calcite, and the gold sparkles are pyrite, the mineral nicknamed fool's gold. Every piece is a little starry sky of its own.

It's fairly soft, at about 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. That's softer than quartz, so it needs a little care. The name blends the Latin "lapis", meaning stone, with an old Persian word for blue. It's said "LAP-iss LAZ-yoo-lee", though you'll hear a few versions and all of them are fine.

The history is the real star. Mines in what's now Afghanistan have produced it for thousands of years. It's inlaid in the funerary mask of Tutankhamun. Later, painters ground it into ultramarine, a pigment that once cost more than gold. Wikipedia's lapis lazuli page has the long version.

Lapis lazuli meaning: what it's traditionally linked with

Lapis is traditionally linked with truth, wisdom and royalty. That makes sense for a stone that was once reserved for the very rich. People today often reach for it when they want to speak up or think something through.

In modern chakra charts it sits with the throat or third eye. Zodiac lists usually give it to Sagittarius. A lot of folks keep a piece on the desk during a big writing project, or wear it to a tough conversation as a small reminder to be honest.

How people use lapis lazuli

• On the wrist. The lapis lazuli bracelet is the easy way to wear it. Each bead has its own pattern of gold flecks.
• Around the neck. The 2-3mm bead necklace is delicate enough to layer.
• As a raw piece. A lapis chunk lets you see the blue, white and gold together. It makes a handsome desk rock.
• For making jewellery. The bead strand is there for anyone with a pair of pliers and a plan.

The lapis lazuli collection shows what's in stock today.

Who tends to choose it? Writers, teachers and students often do, since the stone is tied to truth and wisdom. History lovers come for the pharaoh and painter stories. Artists are drawn to it for obvious reasons. It's also a thoughtful gift for a graduate or anyone starting a job where they'll need to speak up. If you like bold colour with a bit of gold, you'll probably see why people have been fussing over it for so long.

Is my lapis lazuli real?

Real lapis has some variety. Expect a deep blue with bits of white calcite and gold pyrite. A perfectly even blue with no flecks at all might be dyed. Dyed jasper or howlite is sometimes sold as lapis, and glass imitations exist as well.

A common lookalike is sodalite, which is a real and lovely stone in its own right. It has more white veining and rarely shows gold flecks. Some lapis is also waxed or colour-enhanced to deepen the blue. Treated, dyed and man-made stones are labelled as such in our shop.

The blue that painted masterpieces

Ultramarine means "from beyond the sea". Europeans named it that because the stone came such a long way. For centuries, it was one of the most expensive colours a painter could buy. Patrons often wrote into contracts how much of it an artist had to use.

That's why you see it so often on the Virgin Mary's robes in Renaissance paintings. Only the most important figure in the picture got the most costly paint. Vermeer used it too, including in Girl with a Pearl Earring. In the 1820s, chemists worked out how to make a synthetic version, and suddenly anyone could paint with that blue.

Egyptians loved the stone as well. They carved it into scarabs, and the story goes that they ground it for eye makeup too. It's another reason lapis has that royal feel. When you wear it, you're wearing the same rock that kings and painters chased across continents.

Blue like this has a way of slowing people down. Try setting a piece on your desk before a hard email or an honest chat, as a little nudge to say what you really mean. If you like journalling, it makes a handsome paperweight too. Nothing mystical is required.

Caring for lapis lazuli

Lapis is softer and more porous than most jewellery stones. Wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it right away. Skip soaking, salt water and harsh cleaners, because the calcite can react. Keep it away from perfume, and store it apart from harder stones.

Stones that pair well with lapis lazuli

Blue and gold is an old favourite, so citrine is a natural match. Aquamarine makes a lighter, watery blue pair. Clear quartz keeps things simple.

Lapis comes in beads, so you can add it to your own design in the Bracelet Builder. Or see every stone on our stone meanings page.

Frequently asked questions

What does lapis represent?

Lapis usually represents truth, wisdom and royalty. Its deep blue was once reserved for the very wealthy and for sacred art.

How do you pronounce lapis lazuli?

Most English speakers say LAP-iss LAZ-yoo-lee. You'll hear a few versions, and all of them are understood.

What is a lapiz?

Lapiz is a common misspelling of lapis, and it's also the Spanish word for pencil. Lapis is Latin for stone.

What does the Bible say about lapis lazuli?

The word itself isn't in most translations. Some scholars think the sapphire named in the Hebrew Bible was really lapis, but nobody knows for sure.

Are the gold flecks in lapis real gold?

No. They're pyrite, the brassy mineral nicknamed fool's gold. They're a good sign the stone is natural.

Can lapis lazuli get wet?

A quick wipe is fine, but skip soaking. The stone is fairly soft and porous.

Come say hi

Photos never quite catch that blue. Visit us at 396 Victoria Street North in Kitchener to see the gold flecks up close, or browse lapis lazuli online.