"Second," he continued, "check the inclusions. Too much white calcite makes it look like a cloudy sky. You want the deep night, sparked by stars of pyrite. If it's too perfect, too uniform, it’s probably 'denim' lapis that’s been dyed to trick the unwary." "And third?" Elara asked, her breath hitching.
The highest quality (Royal Blue) typically comes from Afghanistan . where to buy lapis lazuli
Rub a cotton swab with acetone on the stone; if blue comes off, it’s dyed jasper or howlite . "Second," he continued, "check the inclusions