Lapis Lazuli is a regal stone that has been adored and prized for thousands of years. One of the earliest mentions of this deep blue gem is in the legend of the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, Inanna, who traveled to and from the underworld. On her initial descent, the legend describes her adorned with jewelry made of lapis lazuli. The ancient Egyptians viewed lapis as a sign of high rank and royalty, and also used it in ground powder form as a cosmetic. Renascence painters used lapis in ground form as well to create a blue pigment called "ultramarine". Ultramarine was rarer and more valued more highly than gold, so if someone was able to commission a painting that utilized ultramarine, it was a sign of their great wealth and status. Michelangelo used large amounts of this pigment in the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.

This elegant vintage bracelet (c. 1960s/1970s) features a large 14k yellow gold and lapis clasp and will make you feel like a goddess whenever you wear it. I absolutely adore the combination of colors and textures in the polished yellow gold, lapis with its fine pyrite sparkles, and lustrous freshwater pearls. The substantial yellow gold clasp measures 1" x 0.75" and contains two beautiful lapis cabochons- an oval cabochon measuring 15.7mm  x 11.62mm, and a round cabochon measuring 5.4mm x 5.4mm. They range in color from blueish violet to blue, show little to no calcite inclusions, and have good symmetry and polish. The bracelet is 7.25 inches long and contains 101 white freshwater pearls with green and rosé overtones, very high luster, and very good matching. A 14k yellow gold bar on the underside of the bracelet keeps the three rows perfectly spaced when worn, and the total weight is an impressive 36.8 grams. This piece comes from the estate of a prominent physician who was a pioneer in her field.