Treated and Fake Lapis Lazuli: What You Need to Know

Why Fake Lapis Lazuli Can Be Difficult to Identify

Although fake lapis lazuli is usually quite easy to identify, treated material can be far more challenging, as the techniques used, primarily in China, have become increasingly sophisticated.

Fake or imitation lapis lazuli is often produced using other natural rocks and minerals, although synthetic materials such as resin or plastic composites are also used.

Sodalite is the most common substitute, as its colour is very similar. Other blue stones, such as azurite and dumortierite, may also be used, but are far less common. Jasper and even howlite have also been documented.

Lower-grade lapis lazuli is often enhanced to improve its appearance. In some cases, paraffin or wax is applied to seal the dye and improve the stone’s polish. This treatment can also make the colour appear far richer than it naturally is.

The white calcite that occurs in lapis lazuli can also be coloured blue to create a more uniform appearance. This mimics higher-quality material, which typically contains less visible calcite. Lapis lazuli with little or no calcite or pyrite is not particularly common. These distinctive inclusions are an important characteristic when identifying genuine material.

The colour in lower-grade lapis lazuli, or in other stones that have been dyed, will often come off when tested with acetone (nail polish remover). Treated stones are also more likely to fade when exposed to UV light or high temperatures.
If you suspect a lapis lazuli stone may be fake, one test involves applying a hot needle to an inconspicuous area. If plastic, wax, or another filler has been used, a burning smell may be noticeable. The problem with most authenticity tests is that they usually cause some degree of damage.

Weight can also be useful when trying to identify genuine lapis from fake. Depending on the material used, an imitation stone may feel lighter. For example, sodalite tends to be less dense than lapis lazuli. Stones produced from synthetic materials will often be noticeably lighter.

The pyrite inclusions present in most lapis lazuli are particularly difficult to replicate convincingly. In fake stones, these gold-coloured specks are often reproduced using metallic paint, which can become obvious when magnified. 

In the following photo, the pyrite is clearly fake. The stone's colour is also too perfect to be natural.  
Although fake lapis lazuli is produced in China, the focus is typically on enhancing lower-grade material to sell at a higher price.

We recently purchased 10 kilograms of rough lapis lazuli from a new supplier in Pakistan who had been recommended to us. When the parcel arrived, we became suspicious because some stones were incredibly blue. Under magnification, we observed small blotchy areas with some colour resembling ink. However, it was very subtle and not easy to see. 

Initial testing with acetone showed the colour to be stable, but we were still not convinced. We therefore sent a selection of stones away for laboratory testing. The results revealed traces of blue dye in some stones but not in others.

The supplier, Babar Khan, who trades on Instagram as Crystaldreams09, explained that he had been unable to fulfil our order in full, so had purchased a small quantity of the same grade lapis from someone in Afghanistan.

There is little or no evidence that lapis lazuli is dyed or treated in Afghanistan. Material is commonly traded through Pakistan, and lower-grade stone, which makes up the bulk of production, is often sent to China for processing. This is well documented within the trade and is not unique to lapis lazuli.

Many retailers buy lapis lazuli from sellers in Pakistan believing it will have come directly from Afghanistan. In reality, much of this material has already passed through specialised processing centres in China. 

Where a treatment is so advanced that it can only be identified through laboratory testing, it will almost certainly have been carried out in China.  

We have always recommended that the safest way to avoid buying fake or treated lapis lazuli is to purchase from a reputable and trustworthy source. The problem is that treatments are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and fake stones are often mixed in with genuine, untreated material.

We sent fifteen stones away for testing, of which nine showed traces of dye. However, with a total purchase of 10 kilograms, testing every individual piece was not viable. Therefore, the entire parcel was returned.

Once stones have been polished, identifying a treatment becomes even more difficult.
Despite these issues, this does not mean that buying lapis lazuli is inherently risky, or that all material on the market has been enhanced. What it does highlight is that the lapis trade is complex, and that even experienced buyers sourcing material in good faith can encounter treated stones.

The vast majority of lapis lazuli sold worldwide is not deliberately misrepresented at the retail level. Treatments are carried out early in the supply chain, well before material reaches wholesalers and small businesses. As stones pass through multiple hands and processing centres, enhancements can go unnoticed until a detailed examination is carried out.

The key takeaway is not to avoid buying lapis lazuli, but to understand it. Knowing what a genuine stone looks like, recognising common signs, and being aware of any material from China. In some cases, the only definitive way to confirm that a stone is authentic is to have it tested soon after purchase. If an enhancement is identified, it should be returned to the retailer.

There's plenty of high-quality lapis lazuli available, but finding a trustworthy supplier is not always easy.

An informed, careful purchase remains the most reliable way to buy this popular and highly sought-after stone.

Article Photos

The lapis lazuli is from our collection.

Pop-up photos: The azurite and calcite are courtesy of Stan Celestian.

The video, which lasts less than one minute, shows how easy it is to produce a fake lapis lazuli stone. Courtesy of Zurick Designs Jewelry and Art.