Necklace Details
Lapis (Afghanistan) – Lapis Lazuli has been prized globally for more than 6,500 years, with Afghanistan’s Badakshan Lapis mines considered the world’s oldest commercial gemstone sources. This rich blue stone created ultramarine pigment, and, with its inclusions of pyrite and calcite, sparkles like a starry sky. Lapis is called the “wisdom-keeper” and believed to promote intellect, self-awareness, and expanded mental capacity.
Turquoise (Arizona; rare) – Turquoise has been mined in the Sonora Desert for centuries. Arizona Turquoise is world-renowned and known for its vibrant true blues; in 1974 the Arizona Legislature designated turquoise as the official state gemstone. Mines include Bisbee, Castle Dome, Ithaca Peak, Kingman, Morenci, Sleeping Beauty, and Turquoise Mountain. Turquoise is one of December’s birthstones and considered a sacred and protective stone around the world.
Turquoise (Sleeping Beauty; rare; old stock) – Turquoise has been mined in the mountains near Globe, Arizona for nearly 4,000 years. Initially discovered by Native Americans during the Anasazi times, the turquoise deposit was rediscovered in the 1900s and named for the nearby mountain that looks like a sleeping woman; it closed in 2012. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is known for its striking sky-blue color and limited matrix.
Swarovski Crystal (Austria) – Swarovski was founded in 1895 following Daniel Swarovski’s invention of the world’s first electric-powered crystal cutting machine and lexicon of crystal cuts that produced a new level of crystal clarity. After viewing the Northern Lights, he partnered with Dior to create his famous Aurora Borealis, or AB, coating, a very thin layer of gold applied to half of a crystal’s facets to create an iridescent, shimmering effect. Today, Swarovski Crystals provide the sparkle for Beyonce and Taylor Swift’s concerts, most notably with 250,000 crystals on Beyonce’s red catsuit (Cowboy Carter Tour) and more than 5,000 on Taylor Swift’s guitar (Eras Tour), now housed at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
22K Gold Vermeil (India) – 22K gold has a bright yellow hue and balances beauty with strength and resilience. Gold has been revered and coveted since ancient times, worn by royalty, and associated with the divine and sacred. This fine metal has long been connected with alchemy and reminds us of our innate potential for transformation and enlightenment. Gold is given as a 50th anniversary gift.