Star mix lapis, pyrite and hematite necklace

Mix lapis, pyrite, hematite and silver necklace

The design of this delicate necklace was inspired by the captivating desert night sky where endless constellations of stars and planets dazzle with lights and colours. Featuring faceted lapis and pyrite beads.

Afghanistan was the source of lapis lazuli for the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations, as well as the later Greeks and Romans. The best lapis lazuli is found in Badakhshan province in north-eastern Afghanistan and has been used for millennia in jewellery. The word lazuli is derived ultimately from the Persian lazhward, the name of a place where it was mined and which came to be associated with the stone and, eventually, with its colour.

Pyrite’s metallic lustre and pale brass-yellow hue give it a superficial resemblance to gold, hence the well-known nickname of fool’s gold.

The name  Hematite is derived from the Greek word haima, meaning blood, due to its reddish colour when powdered. Hematite has been found on Mars, contributing to the planet’s reddish appearance. Evidence suggests hematite was used by humans as far back as 164,000 years ago.