Lakazur

Lakazur is an online jewellery studio built around one stone, lapis lazuli. Every piece pairs natural, undyed lapis with 925 sterling silver, and the shop sells mainly to customers in the United States from lakazur.com.

Lapis is the deep blue stone that painters once ground up to make ultramarine. Good pieces range from bright royal blue to dark navy, often with small gold flecks of pyrite and the odd white vein of calcite. Those markings mean no two pieces look exactly alike.

What they make:

• Stud and drop earrings
• Rings, including adjustable gold-plated styles
• Pendants and necklaces
• Bracelets, some combining lapis with southern red agate

Example prices:

• Adjustable gold-plated lapis ring: $79
• Lapis bead drop earrings: $99 to $115
• Rectangular faceted lapis studs: $119
• Lapis gourd pendant necklace: $149
• Lapis and red agate bracelet: $159
• Lapis cylinder bead bracelet: $269

The shop also uses turquoise, freshwater pearls and mother of pearl in a few designs.

If you're buying a gift, look at the product photos closely. The depth of the blue, how the gold flecks are spread and how smooth the polish is are what separate a nice piece of lapis from a dull one. Lakazur photographs each style on the ear or hand as well as flat, which helps judge the size.

A care note: lapis is fairly soft, so take rings off before washing up or using cleaning sprays, and store each piece separately so harder stones don't scratch it. A soft dry cloth is all it needs.

Lakazur advertises a money-back guarantee; the full return terms are on its refund policy page. Questions go to shop@lakazur.com.

Listed address: 5 Brayford Square, London E1 0SG, United Kingdom.