This Lapis came direct from a dealer in Pakistan who smuggled it out of the Afghani border... I had the good fortune of meeting him at the Tuscon Gem Show last year and bought all he had in stock! OUCH! But Afghani Lapis is the finest available on the planet! It has the deepest, rich blue available when most commercial Lapis comes in a denim color and then is dyed. Dye will often come off on your clothes staining them forever! I guarantee NO DYE on this Lapis. It's the real McCoy! and a rarity at best. The pendant was also hand made in Pakistan. Realize that getting goods from countries such as these is very difficult at best! Enjoy these precious and beautiful stones. Malachite from Russia. All Sterling components.
