Lapis Lazuli Beads

Lapis Lazuli beads are a deep blue gemstone that typically ranges in shade from a light sky blue to an intense ocean purple. Although some other colors have been found, they are rare when compared with the usual intense and vivid shades of lapis. The term "lapis lazuli" comes from the Latin phrase lapis lazuli, meaning "stone of Lazulia." The stone was named for the ancient Greek city-state of Lazia or alternatively for its production center in Bactria. Other ancient names for lapis lazuli include "azure stone," "blue stone," and "stone of Babylon."