The dreamy brilliantly blue gem lapis lazuli has intrigued mankind since Antiquity. It has been known for at least 6,000 years and draws its name from the Persian word lazhward meaning blue and for centuries it has been fashioned into beads and carvings. It was used to decorate the wooden box known as the Standard of Ur, a Sumerian artefact, as early as 2500 B.C. And fine pieces by craftsman of ancient Egypt have been found in the tombs of the kings. And today the house of Pomelllato in Milan has used this intriguing and beautiful gem as a centerpiece in its capsule Denim Lapis Lazuli Collection, a limited edition and made to order only collection within the house’s Ritratto Collection.

The jewels were originally bought out for Earth Day last April for they are made entirely with sustainable, responsibly sourced materials from around the world. Lapis lazuli from Chile is paired with deep red Tanzanian rubies and Fairmined rose gold from Colombia. The lapis lazuli emanates from the Las Flores de los Andes Company in Chile which sustainably extracts the stone from the company’s high altitude mine. This stone has been carefully selected by Pomellato’s gem-buying team for its high percentage of lazurite which gives the stone its deep blue color. Lapis lazuli is mainly composed of lazurite and sodalite with smaller amounts of white calcite and specks of brassy colored pyrite. The Tanzanian rubies curl around the corners of the lapis lazuli. Meanwhile each jewel is crafted from Fairmined rose gold from certified mines in Colombia. The Fairmined label guarantees that the metal comes from artisanal, traceable mines that maintain safe working conditions, are free from child labor and ensure that strict environmental management of the site is in place.

The jewels are entirely crafted in-house at Pomellato in Milan. Today Pomellato is part of the Kering Group but it was founded back in 1967 by Pino Rabolini who was the heir to his family’s goldsmith legacy. Every day in Pomellato’s Milan gallery over 100 artisans craft one-of-kind pieces. The house is committed sustainable development and monitors its environmental impact through the Environmental Profit and Loss account published each year by the Kering Group.
© The Gourmet Gazette
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