Handcut Afghani Lapis Lazuli. The semi-polished beads in the above necklace, all mined in the rugged remote region of north-east Afghanistan which has been the main source for this gemstone rock since antiquity, have been cut in Kabul but purchased from Afghani traders in Jaipur Rajasthan. All the beads are of natural “ultramarine” deep blue, and with the natural characteristic inclusions of this gemstone, pyrites and calcite.
One of the beads has been cut with an extra hole and set with a small Turquoise. This is a very Afghani artisanal touch, replicating an embellishment seen in ancient Bactrian bead strands excavated in the north of the country.
Lapis Lazuli is one of the two gemstone “rocks”, along with Turquoise, and is a relatively dense material. This necklace weighs around 50 grams.
Please note, the deep blue of Lapis is sometimes difficult to capture truly in a photo. The colour of this bead necklace is in reality not as dark as shown in the images.