Lapis Lovely

by Diana Jarrett GG RMV

It’s not just the stone, and it’s not just the design. A clever designer knows how to fuse an interesting and sometimes ancient stone into a very modern twist. Take lapis. Really. You should take this stone. Its proper name is lapis lazuli, and it’s an ancient gem.

The alluring vibrantly blue opaque stone has been attracting jewelry buffs for eons. King Tutankhamen’s funerary mask was decorated with lapis eyebrows. See? In the Renaissance and Baroque era, important artists like Titian and Vermeer pulverized the stone and made it into a pricey blue pigment for their masterpieces.

Doves by Doron Paloma lapis ring in 18K rose gold, with white topaz and diamonds

There’s richness and depth to the hue in fine quality lapis, and collectors adore the other minerals that are often present in the stone, like pyrite or calcite. These bits mixed in to the lapis stone create individuality in the gem itself. Today’s jewelry collectors favor a highly personalized experience with their collection and lapis can be a striking addition to a woman’s jewelry wardrobe.

We’re very fond of the way designer Doron Paloma treats lapis lazuli with a decidedly contemporary vibe. Giving the focus stone a modern rose-cut faceting creates special interest in the sizable gem. Big is beautiful with opaque stones like lapis lazuli, because you have greater opportunities to view the delicate variation within the stone to make it truly your own.

Cleopatra’s Barge in Naples has been offering jewelry collectors a wide array of designer goods for years. And you’ll be pleased to know they carry the Doves Collection by Doron Paloma, so you have no excuse for not dropping by soon and previewing their tempting selection.

Contact Diana Jarrett at diana@dianajarrett.com and read color-n-ice.blogspot.com