Lapis Gemstone Beads

Frequently asked questions

• Is your lapis real, or is it dyed sodalite?

  Lapis lazuli is a rock — primarily lazurite, with pyrite (the metallic gold flecking) and calcite (white veining). Dyed sodalite, dyed howlite, and dyed jasper are common imitations sold as "lapis" in the cheap-bead market; the presence of pyrite is one of the practical authentication signals, since sodalite does not contain pyrite. If a strand is dyed lapis (lapis whose color has been deepened), that treatment should be disclosed — ask if a strand doesn't specify.
• What's the difference between Afghan, Chilean, and Russian lapis?

  Afghan lapis (Sar-e-Sang valley) is the historic source — deep royal blue, abundant gold pyrite, minimal calcite. Chilean lapis is lighter, sometimes greenish, with more calcite veining and less pyrite. Russian (Lake Baikal) lapis sits between the two on saturation. Origin sets the visual register and how the strand reads in finished work.
• Is dyed lapis the same as fake lapis?

  No. Dyed lapis is lapis whose blue has been deepened with color, typically because the natural material had visible calcite or pale zoning. It is lapis lazuli rock with added color. Fake lapis is dyed sodalite, dyed howlite, or dyed jasper — different minerals entirely. Dye treatment, when present, should be disclosed; mineral identity should also be specified there — ask if either isn't specified.
• What is denim lapis?

  "Denim lapis" is a trade name for lower-saturation lapis with significant calcite veining — typically Chilean material. It has a distinctive washed-blue look that designers use deliberately for casual or boho registers. It is real lapis. It is not "low-grade" in the sense of being defective; it's a different aesthetic tier with its own audience, and often appears as its own filter or sub-collection in disclosure-conscious catalogs.
• How can I tell if my lapis has been dyed?

  The standard field test is the acetone swab: a cotton swab dipped in acetone (nail polish remover) and rubbed gently on an inconspicuous spot. Dye will transfer onto the cotton; natural lapis will not. Magnification can also reveal dye pooling around pyrite or in calcite veins. Dye treatment, when present — ask before buying if a strand doesn't specify.