LAPIS LAZULI FROM AFGHANISTAN 5.7CTS [S1858]

Item Description Pictures Bidding History Comments

About This Auction		About This Seller: sedagems
Minimum Bid (USD)		Feedback Rating	100.00% Positive
Current Bid (USD)	9.99	Member Since	July 19, 2007 in Australia
Bid Increment	1.00	View feedback Send seller message View 2504 other auctions from this seller More about this seller
Bids Placed	1 jump to bid history
Starting Bid (USD)	9.99
Reserve Price (USD)	none
Starts	November 27, 2008 11:05 PM
Ends	December 4, 2008 11:00 PM	Basic Shipping Information
Auction Category	Lapis Lazuli	Shipping Cost	3.00 paid by buyer
Auction ID	46076	Shipping Insurance (optional)	7.00
Ends in 23 hours 43 minutes
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Gallery

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Description

SEDAGEMS

Lapis Lazuli

Quality high domed stone ready for setting

Source Afghanistan

Natural stone

Oval high dome

Mohs scale 5 to 5.5

Weight 5.7 CTS APPROX

Size 12.5 x 9 x6.5 MM APPROX.

There is some reflection from the light as the stone is well polished

Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for 6,500 years.

The finest color is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. There should be no white calcite veins and the pyrite inclusions should be small. Stones that contain much calcite at all or too much pyrite are not as valuable. Patches of pyrite are an important help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value. Often, inferior lapis is dyed to improve its color, but this is often a very dark blue with a noticeable grey cast.

AS WITH ALL OUR STOCK YOU MAY RETURN IT FOR A FULL REFUND IF NOT PLEASED PROVIDED IT IS NOT TOUCHED IN ANY WAY.