I took some cabing/ stone carving classes a few years ago: one of my practice pieces was this central Lapis cabochon that took me weeks to shape from a eaw block and finish.I always thought that I would use it for a regal ring, a casual yet sophiticated cocktail ring that would feature it. I carved several wax prototypes but I could never achieve a perfect dome shape and  symetry for all the design & texture elements: with the help of my CAD designer, we finally finished it years later: after much attention to the "pine cone/ scale" texture to the alternance of cabochons and white pearls set on mini posts...Finally this ring is complete, a simple blue extravance for every day royalty whenever you want to feel it...