Sterling silver Vintage John Hardy cushion lapis "Bamboo" ring, size 7. This beautiful blue gem with flecks of golden pyrite has been around since the early Egyptians and Incas, who ground it into powder to use as a pigment in paint, dyes and eyeshadow. During the Renaissance it was know as the valuable pigment "ultramarine" in paints. The best quality lapis is mined mostly in Afghanistan.