Blue lapis lazuli bracelet, PVD gold-plated stainless steel, 15.5+3.5 cm

This rich, almost midnight blue takes on a new dimension next to gold. The bracelet pairs irregular blue lapis lazuli with PVD gold-plated stainless steel.

It measures 15.5 cm with a 3.5 cm extension and closes with a spring ring clasp. The 3 mm lapis lazuli stays slim: wear it alone or with a gold-tone bangle.

Lapis lazuli is not a single mineral but a rock, whose characteristic blue comes from lazurite, veined with white calcite and flecked with golden specks of pyrite. It is born from the transformation of limestone under heat and pressure. Its most famous deposit, in the Badakhshan mountains of Afghanistan, has been mined for several thousand years; it is also found in Chile and Russia. From Mesopotamia to Rome, it was sought after as a royal stone: the Egyptians inlaid it in Tutankhamun's funerary mask, and Renaissance painters ground it to obtain ultramarine blue, one of the most expensive pigments on their palette.

The stone in your jewelry comes from Chile.

In lithotherapy, lapis lazuli is seen as a stone of wisdom and truth. It is credited with the power to clear the mind, support intuition and help you express yourself sincerely. It may also help release tension and find a form of inner peace. Tradition associates it with the Third Eye Chakra and with the signs of Sagittarius, Taurus and Aquarius. None of this has been scientifically demonstrated: these benefits belong to the beliefs of lithotherapy and are in no way a substitute for medical advice. Wearing lapis lazuli is first and foremost the pleasure of a midnight blue scattered with gold.

The steel of your jewelry can handle water: shower, rain or swimming. After the sea or the pool, simply rinse it in clean water and dry it, as repeated exposure to salt and chlorine can dull its shine over time. Clean it in lukewarm, soapy water with a soft cloth, and avoid abrasive products and rubbing against hard surfaces.

Lapis lazuli is a fairly soft stone, sensitive to knocks, chemicals and heat. Even if the metal of your jewelry can handle water, the stone itself is porous: never soak it, and take off your jewelry for the shower, swimming, sports or housework. Apply perfume and cream before putting it on, and store it separately so that it does not get scratched by other jewelry. To clean it, rinse the stone quickly in lukewarm, lightly soapy water, then dry it immediately with a soft cloth. Never use nail polish remover, alcohol, ultrasonic or steam cleaners. In lithotherapy, it is recharged for a few hours in moonlight, possibly on a quartz cluster, rather than in the sun.

Each piece of jewelry comes with its certificate of authenticity. Stainless steel does not darken and can handle contact with water, but the stone in your jewelry is delicate: take it off before showering, bathing or swimming. Your jewelry complies with the European REACH regulations on nickel, lead and cadmium. Its golden color is obtained by PVD (physical vapor deposition), a coating applied under vacuum to the stainless steel. As steel is not a precious metal, it does not bear a fineness hallmark.

For you if you like deep blue and gold tones, or for someone close to you who likes color in a discreet way. PVD gold-plated stainless steel is hypoallergenic and complies with REACH regulations: it suits most sensitive skin.