Painters once ground lapis lazuli into powder to make ultramarine, the brightest blue they could buy.

Lapis is a deep blue rock made mostly of a mineral called lazurite, often flecked with gold pyrite that sparkles like stars. People have been mining it for more than six thousand years. Choose polished round beads in two sizes, or chips, all on a stretchy cord.

It's traditionally linked with wisdom, truth and self-expression, so people wear it for presentations, writing and speaking up. That royal blue also looks gorgeous with gold. It's a classic stone with a lot of history behind it.

How to use it

• Wear it to speak up or present
• Pair it with gold jewellery
• Stack it with clear quartz or sodalite
• Give it to a writer or teacher

Care: Lapis is fairly soft and dislikes water and chemicals, so slip it off before washing up and wipe it with a dry cloth.

The details

• Stone: Lapis Lazuli
• Options: 8mm, Chip, 4mm
• Sold as: Single piece
• Country of origin: China
• People pick it for: Communication, Creativity
• Chakra: Throat, Third Eye, Crown