Since ancient times, civilization has worn ornaments created from lapis lazuli and glass. Midnight blue lapis, found only in a few mines in Afghanistan, was the favorite gem of royalty. The Egyptians especially prized it for amulets and jewelry. Glass, long treasured for its brilliant colors and flexibility of form, was also known in antiquity. During the renaissance, the artisans of Venice rediscovered the classical techniques of glassmaking. Venetian beads were scan being traded throughout the known world, and were used as a medium of exchange in Africa. The deep tones of the stone blend superbly with the rich colors of the glass. At once classic and contemporary, this necklace is fit to adorn the royalty of any era.