Amber (Kehruba) Price in Pakistan: Colour, Clarity, Origin and Weight

Amber, known in Pakistan as kehruba, is fossilised tree resin rather than a mineral, and its pricing follows its own logic. It is light, warm and soft, it comes in colours from pale lemon to deep cherry, and some pieces carry tiny plants or insects trapped millions of years ago. It is also one of the most imitated materials in the bazaar, with young copal, pressed amber and plastic all offered under the same name.

This guide explains what makes one piece of kehruba cost more than another, shows GemStore's own current prices per stone, per carat and per ratti, and gives you a straightforward way to compare quotes, including why amber's lightness makes weight-based pricing look different from other stones.

Why amber prices behave differently

Most gemstones are dense. Amber is not: its specific gravity is only about 1.05 to 1.10, barely heavier than water, against 2.65 for quartz and about 4 for sapphire. A carat of amber is therefore a much larger piece than a carat of most stones. That has two consequences for buyers:

• A per-carat price for amber cannot be compared directly with a per-carat price for other stones. A modest-looking rate buys a surprisingly large piece.
• Large amber stones and beads add up quickly in carat weight, so some dealers quote by the piece, by the gram or by the strand rather than by the ratti.

Keep this in mind when reading the table below and when comparing a ring stone with a tasbih or bead necklace.

GemStore's current amber prices

The table below is built from our own amber listings and refreshed monthly. It shows the lowest, typical and highest price per stone, and the same figures per carat and per ratti.

Amber · October 2026 edition · PKR, from GemStore listings. 1 ratti = 0.91 carat.

Weight	Weights	Stones	Per carat	Per ratti
All Amber in stock	1.8 – 1.8 ct	2	Rs 1,500 – Rs 1,500	Rs 1,350 – Rs 1,350

Per-ratti figures use the gemstone ratti of 0.91 carat, the standard for stones in Pakistan. The jeweller's sunari ratti is smaller, about 0.61 carat, so convert before comparing a quote; our carat to ratti converter does the arithmetic. Our amber range is small, so the table reflects a few stones; the monthly gemstone price guide covers the wider market across stones.

What sets the price of kehruba

1. Colour

Amber's colour comes from the original resin and from natural ageing. Honey yellow and cognac are the most familiar and form the bulk of the market. Some colours are less common and usually cost more:

• Cherry or deep red, which is uncommon in natural, unheated amber.
• Green amber, much of it produced by heating and pressure treatment, which should be disclosed.
• Butterscotch or "egg-yolk" opaque amber, prized in some markets, especially in old beads.
• Blue amber from the Dominican Republic, which glows blue in sunlight and under UV and is among the most expensive types.

2. Clarity and transparency

Clear, transparent amber shows its colour best and is generally preferred for ring stones and pendants. Cloudy amber, full of tiny bubbles, has a milky look; it is valued by some collectors, especially in its opaque forms, but in everyday ring stones clearer pieces usually cost more.

3. Inclusions

Plant fragments and bubbles are common and do not raise the price much. A complete, well-preserved insect or small creature, clearly visible, can multiply the value of a piece, and the rarer and clearer the inclusion, the higher the price. This is exactly why fake inclusions are made: a perfect insect sitting dead centre in a cheap, flawless piece deserves suspicion.

4. Natural, heated or pressed

• Natural amber, polished from a single piece with no treatment, is worth most.
• Heated or clarified amber has been heated, sometimes under pressure, to clear cloudiness or deepen colour. Disc-shaped "sun spangles" inside are a sign. It is genuine amber and acceptable when disclosed, but priced below untreated material.
• Pressed amber (also called reconstructed amber or ambroid) is made from small fragments fused under heat and pressure. It is real amber material but worth much less than a solid piece.

5. Size and shape

Larger clean pieces are scarcer, so price rises with size. Well-shaped cabochons, matched beads and carved pieces cost more than irregular polished nuggets. For beads, matching size and colour across a strand adds value.

6. Origin

Baltic amber, from the shores of the Baltic Sea, is the best-known source and makes up much of the world trade. Dominican amber is famous for clarity, inclusions and blue amber. Burmese amber, called burmite, is very old and often reddish. Origin can affect price, especially for Dominican blue and Burmese material, but it is rarely certified for everyday pieces.

Copal and plastic: the price traps

The most expensive mistake with kehruba is paying amber prices for something else.

• Copal is young resin, thousands rather than millions of years old. It looks very similar and is genuinely natural, but it is softer, can crack and turn tacky with time, and is worth far less.
• Plastic and resin imitations can match amber's colour and warmth. They usually sink in strong salt water, while amber floats.
• Glass is heavy and cold to the touch and is easy to rule out.

Our guide Amber or Copal? Five honest tests explains the saltwater float, UV light and other checks in detail. Ask any seller to write "natural amber" on the invoice and to state whether it is pressed or heat-treated.

How per-ratti and per-gram pricing work

In Pakistani markets you may see kehruba quoted three ways: per ratti for ring stones, per gram for beads and rough, and per piece or strand for tasbih and necklaces. Each is fair if it is clear. To compare:

1. Convert everything to carats. One gram is 5 carats; one gemstone ratti is 0.91 carat; one sunari ratti is about 0.61 carat.
2. Ask for the weight of the amber alone, without thread, clasp or setting.
3. Compare price per carat only between pieces of similar type. Clear honey amber, cherry amber, pressed amber and copal are different products.

How to compare two quotes fairly

• Same material. Is it natural amber, heated amber, pressed amber or copal? Get it in writing.
• Same quality. Compare colour, clarity and inclusions side by side in daylight.
• Same unit. Convert to carats, using the right ratti.
• Same item. A stone in a silver ring or a strung tasbih includes labour and materials. Ask for the amber price separately.
• Same terms. Can you inspect it before paying and return it if it is not as described?

Budget tiers, using our price filters

Our shop's budget filters show what each level buys across all stones:

• under 5,000 rupees: entry-level stones and small pieces.
• 5,000 to 20,000 rupees: everyday ring stones and pendants.
• 20,000 to 50,000 rupees: larger or finer pieces.
• over 50,000 rupees: exceptional colour, size or rarity.

Our amber stock is limited, so the price table above is the best guide to where our current pieces fall.

Valuing old family amber

Many Pakistani families own old kehruba beads or a tasbih passed down through generations. Older pieces are often opaque butterscotch or deep, darkened honey, because amber slowly oxidises and darkens on its surface over decades. Age alone does not set the price; the same factors apply, along with condition. Look for cracks, crazing on the surface and wear around the drill holes. Before selling or valuing an old piece, confirm that it is amber and not early plastic such as Bakelite or celluloid, which were widely used to imitate amber beads; the saltwater float and a UV torch are the gentlest first checks.

Care protects value

At 2 to 2.5 on the Mohs scale amber scratches very easily, and perfume, hairspray, alcohol and cleaning products can cloud its surface. A scratched or dulled piece loses much of its appeal. Keep it in its own soft pouch, put it on after perfume rather than before, wipe it with a soft damp cloth and never use an ultrasonic cleaner or hot water. Pendants, earrings and beads suit amber better than a ring worn every day; if you do want a ring, choose a bezel that protects the edges. Our gemstone care guide has more on storing soft stones, and our stone setting service page explains setting options.

Kehruba in tasbih and traditional use

Amber tasbih and beads are popular gifts in Pakistan, and amber's warmth and light weight make it comfortable to hold for long periods. Tasbih are priced as sets, so look for even colour, similar bead size, clean drilling and a strong thread, and check every bead for the plastic seam lines that moulded imitations can show. Our gemstone tasbih page and the guide to choosing a tasbih stone compare amber with aqeeq, Moh-e-Najaf and other options. Amber also makes a thoughtful Ramadan or Eid gift.

Where to start

Every piece in our amber collection is priced and photographed on its own. Our current stones include a 1.80 carat natural amber and a second 1.80 carat natural amber; set side by side, they show how colour and clarity can differ between pieces of the same weight. If you like warm golden colours in a harder stone, our citrine and yellow agate collections are worth a look.

We deliver across Pakistan with Cash on Delivery: open the parcel, check the amber in daylight and pay the rider only if you are happy. Returns are accepted within 7 days, and a certificate is available on request.

Shop the stones: amber.