How do I care for my lapis lazuli jewellery?

Gemstones take centuries to emerge from the earth. But some can be ruined with just a few hours of exposure to sunlight, perfume or water. Here’s how to care for your lapis lazuli crystal jewellery.

What is lapis lazuli?

Lapis lazuli isn’t actually a crystal at all — it’s a metamorphic rock, which means it’s a stone pressed into being when several rocks met in the heat and pressure of our earth’s crust. Give or take a few thousand years and you have lapis lazuli. AKA, one of the most revered stones across cultures and centuries.

How hard is lapis lazuli?

The hardness of crystals and gemstones is ranked on what’s called a Mohs scale. A high rank on the Mohs scale means a gemstone or crystal is very hard. A low score means it is very soft, and could be damaged by light, scratches or water.

Lapis lazuli ranks between a 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness, depending on the rocks that formed it. That means lapis is fairly hard, and will not probably not be damaged by daily wear. But be warned: lapis lazuli can fade when exposed to bright sunlight for long periods. If you have a piece of genuine lapis lazuli gem jewellery from Cunningfolk, we recommend you store it in a jewellery box or a drawer.

How do I care for my amethyst jewellery?

With a fairly high Mohs score, lapis lazuli jewellery should be fairly durable. The stone itself is unlikely to scratch, and can be gently washed in warm, soapy water.

But you will want to be mindful of the fastings, which are the bits and pieces that make the stones a complete piece of jewellery. Cunningfolk lapis lazuli jewellery is strung on 100% real silk. To preserve the silk, set your lapis lazuli jewellery aside when you shower or go swimming.

Many pieces of lapis lazuli jewellery will also use gold filled, gold plated or gold vermeil clasps. These can tarnish, so try to avoid showering or swimming with your amethyst jewellery on.

Lapis lazuli jewellery from Cunningfolk can be washed in warm, soapy water, then rinsed and hung to dry. Check our blog for incense blends and rituals to recharge the magical properties of your gemstones.