Markaz-e-Neel - Lapis Lazuli Silver Necklace

Markaz-e-Neel is a statement silver necklace by Orah Jewels and Crafts, built around polished lapis lazuli beads and a bold rectangular lapis centerpiece. A circular silver pendant, detailed with concentric engraved lines, adds sculptural movement to the piece, creating a distinctive balance between rich color and contemporary form.

The lapis lazuli in Markaz-e-Neel is sourced from Badakhshan, Afghanistan, the same high altitude deposits that have supplied the stone for more than six thousand years, making it one of the oldest continuously mined gemstone materials in recorded history. Its deep blue color comes from lazurite, a mineral that forms within the rock under specific metamorphic conditions and produces a blue of unusual interior density rather than a surface tone. Ancient traders carried lapis along routes that eventually reached Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it was ground into ultramarine pigment and carved into objects of ceremony. The beads and centerpiece here are matched for even, saturated color, with the natural flecks of pyrite running through the stone left visible rather than polished away.

The design pairs the weight of the rectangular centerpiece with a run of rounded lapis beads, so the necklace reads as substantial without becoming heavy on the neck. The circular silver pendant beneath the beads is engraved with concentric lines that catch light as the piece moves, a sculptural detail that complements rather than competes with the stone. It sits close to the collarbone and layers well with finer chains.

Made at the Orah Jewels and Crafts facility in Lahore, with lapis sourced and set in house. One piece.

Stone: Natural Lapis Lazuli (Badakhshan, Afghanistan)
Metal: Sterling Silver