Custom Order – Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Bead Pendant #1 (c. 300 BC) (Approx. 3 weeks)

Custom Order – Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Bead Pendant #1 (c. 300 BC) (Approx. 3 weeks)

$450.00

Ancient Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Bead
Bactria | Hand-Carved Bead | c. 300 BC | Set in Sterling Silver with Chain

This pendant features a genuine hand-carved lapis lazuli bead from ancient Bactria, dating to around 300 BC. Prized for its celestial blue streaked with golden pyrite, lapis from this region adorned Hellenistic rulers, Persian nobility, and merchants along the early Silk Roads. The bead, once part of a necklace or garment, carries with it the aura of one of antiquity’s most luxurious materials.

Highlights:

Authentic Bactrian lapis lazuli bead (c. 300 BC)
Rich natural blue with golden pyrite flecks
Secure prong setting, open for full visibility
Includes sterling silver chain (gold upgrade available)

The History (Collapsible Section):
Bactria, at the crossroads of Persia, India, and Central Asia, was famed for its lapis lazuli mines. This gemstone had been revered for millennia, reaching Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean through ancient trade.

By the late Achaemenid and early Hellenistic periods, Bactrian lapis was a symbol of prestige, wealth, and divine favor. Worn by kings, priests, and traders, its vivid color was thought to embody the heavens themselves. To wear such a bead today is to take part in a tradition stretching back to the dawn of global trade.

Artifact Details (Collapsible Section):

Type: Hand-carved lapis lazuli bead
Date: c. 300 BC
Origin: Bactria (modern Afghanistan region)
Size: Approx. 10 mm at widest (see photos for scale)
Material: Lapis lazuli with natural pyrite inclusions
Condition: Excellent for age; stable with ancient wear
Setting: Prong-set in sterling silver, open to showcase natural surface
Chain: Sterling silver chain included (16", 18", 20", or 24"); upgrade to 14k/18k gold available

What’s Included (Collapsible Section):

Genuine Bactrian lapis lazuli bead, c. 300 BC
Custom silver prong setting with matching chain (gold upgrade optional)
Certificate of authenticity with historical notes
Luxury display box & polishing cloth
Free insured U.S. shipping (2–3 day delivery)
International shipping available
Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee

Product variants

Custom Order – Bactrian Lapis Lazuli Bead Pendant #1 (c. 300 BC) (Approx. 3 weeks)

18k Gold / Prong

$450.00

Coin Options

Setting Type

There are many coin setting options that we offer.

Bezel:

The coin is held in place with a hammered edge
This offers a clean look and protects the edge of the coin, but does cover some part of the front and back of the coin face

*This option is not available for Rose Gold

Prong:

The coin is held in place with prongs, with options of 3 or more utilized
This accentuates the irregularities of ancient coins, showing off most of the edge
Options of prong ring around the coin or behind the coin

Jump Ring:

A jump ring is soldered through the coin to be affixed to a chain

Fixed Chain:

The setting is directly soldered to the chain

Metal Type

We offer a range of metal options for the coin to be set in, from Sterling Silver, 14k Gold, 18k Gold and more. You can even chose to select Rose Gold.

Bail Options

The bail is the hardware in which your pendant rests along a chain. We offer single ring, double ring and triple ring bail options. This applies most commonly to the bezel set coins.

You can also customize the orientation, thickness of the bail and more.

Jewelry Application

With your choice of coin, you also have the option to choose type of jewelry. We offer anything from pendants, cufflinks, bracelets, rings and more.

Guide

See our Guide!