Black Agate Price in Pakistan: What Changes the Cost of Kala Aqeeq

Black agate, known in Pakistan as kala or siyah aqeeq, is a stone many people buy for a first ring. It is affordable, tough and easy to match with silver, and it carries the familiar name of aqeeq. Because it is so common, sellers tend to compete on price, and the differences between stones are easy to miss.

This guide explains where the money in a black agate actually goes. With this stone the price is decided less by rarity and more by the depth of the black, the quality of cutting and polish, the shape, and honest disclosure of how the colour was achieved. You will also find a price table from GemStore's own listings, a note on per-ratti quotes and a checklist for comparing sellers. Our black agate collection shows each stone with its own photo and weight.

Black agate prices from our listings

The table below is built from the black agate stones currently listed on GemStore and is refreshed monthly. It shows the lowest, typical and highest price per stone, and the same figures per carat and per ratti.

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

Weight	Weights	Stones	Per carat	Per ratti
3 – 6 carat	3.7 – 6.0 ct	11	Rs 70 – Rs 170	Rs 60 – Rs 150
6 – 10 carat	7.0 – 9.4 ct	6	Rs 130 – Rs 190	Rs 120 – Rs 170
Over 10 carat	10.8 – 33.8 ct	12	Rs 70 – Rs 200	Rs 60 – Rs 180

Use it as a reference point for other quotes. Because black agate is widely available, a quote far above this range should come with a clear reason, such as unusual size, a fine carved shape or a ready-made silver ring. The monthly gemstone price guide covers other stones in the same way.

First, understand how black agate gets its colour

Agate is a banded form of chalcedony, a type of quartz. Naturally jet-black agate is uncommon. Most black agate on the market, in Pakistan and worldwide, is grey or pale agate that has been dyed black using a sugar-and-acid process that has been in use for a very long time. The result is permanent and stable.

That has two consequences for price:

• Dyed black agate is a legitimate product and is priced as an affordable stone. It should be disclosed, and GemStore discloses known treatments on each listing.
• A seller asking a high premium for "natural, undyed" black agate should be able to explain how they know. Without testing, it is difficult to prove.

Our black agate buying guide explains dyeing in more depth, and the guide to spotting dyed and glass aqeeq shows the tests worth doing.

Depth and evenness of black

Once you accept that most black agate is dyed, the quality of the colour becomes the main difference between stones. A deep, even, inky black across the whole stone is worth more than one with grey patches, faint bands or brownish zones that took the dye unevenly.

Look at the stone with a strong light shining through its edge. A small amount of very dark brown or grey at the thinnest point is normal. Pale spots in the body of the stone, or bands that show through as grey stripes, reduce the price.

Polish: where most of the value is

A finely polished black agate looks almost like black glass, with a mirror shine that makes the colour look deeper. A poorly polished one looks dull and slightly grey. Agate is around 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and takes an excellent polish, so a dull finish usually means hurried work.

• Check for fine scratches by tilting the stone so a light reflects off it.
• Look for a straight, crisp reflection; wobbly reflections point to an uneven surface.
• Check the edges for small chips from rough handling.

On a stone this affordable, the difference between an average and a fine polish is small in rupees and large in how the ring looks for years.

Shape and cut

Black agate is cut in many ways, and the cut changes the price more than the raw material does.

• Cabochons (smooth domes) are the most common and most affordable.
• Flat tablets, often used in men's rings, need careful, even polishing and clean edges.
• Faceted stones take more work and are usually priced a little higher.
• Engraved stones, with names or calligraphy cut into the surface, are priced on the quality of the engraving as much as the stone.

Symmetry matters for every shape: an even outline, a centred dome and a level base all make for a neater ring.

Size

Agate forms in large masses, so size does not make black agate much more expensive per ratti. Larger stones cost more in total simply because they weigh more, and very large, perfectly even pieces carry a small premium. To see how size looks in practice, compare our 10.80 carat black agate and 14.35 carat black agate show what that looks like.

Black agate, onyx and look-alikes

In the trade, black agate and black onyx often refer to the same material, dyed black chalcedony. Some sellers use "onyx" for a more uniform black and "agate" for stones with visible banding, but there is no fixed rule. See our planned onyx collection for stones sold under that name.

Imitations include black glass, plastic and resin. Glass may show tiny round bubbles under a loupe and feels less cool to the touch; plastic feels light and warm. Hematite and black tourmaline are different stones altogether and are priced on their own terms. If you want a banded look instead of solid black, our Sulemani agate collection is the natural next step.

How black agate wears, and why that matters for value

Black agate is one of the best-value stones for a daily ring because it is hard enough to resist most knocks and is not porous enough to soak up soap or oils. The dyed colour is permanent and does not fade with wear. Over years, the polish may lose a little of its mirror shine where the ring touches desks and doors; a jeweller can repolish it at small cost. A stone that starts with a fine, even polish keeps looking good longer, which is another reason to pay attention to finish when comparing quotes.

Per carat or per ratti: reading a quote

Black agate is usually quoted per ratti in Pakistani bazaars, though many dealers sell ready-cut ring stones per piece. The standard gemstone ratti is 0.91 carat (about 0.182 grams). The jeweller's sunari ratti is smaller, about 0.1215 grams, roughly 0.61 carat. A 10.92 carat stone is 12 standard ratti but about 18 sunari ratti. Always ask which is meant, and use our carat to ratti converter to check the total.

How to compare two black agate quotes

1. Same treatment status. Ask whether the colour is dyed. Most is, and that is fine when it is disclosed.
2. Same unit. Confirm the ratti, or compare by carats.
3. Same cut. A faceted or engraved stone should not be compared with a plain cabochon.
4. Polish quality. Ask for a photo that shows a reflection on the surface.
5. Stone alone. If a silver ring is included, ask for the stone's price separately. Our planned aqeeq ring price page explains how ring costs add up.
6. Returns. Check what happens if the stone does not match the listing.

Budget tiers, by filter

Black agate sits mostly in the lowest budget tier, which is why it is so often a first stone.

• under 5,000 rupees: where most black agate ring stones are found.
• 5,000 to 20,000 rupees: occasional large, finely finished or specially cut pieces.
• 20,000 to 50,000 rupees and over 50,000 rupees: not usually needed for black agate; useful if you are comparing with other aqeeq or precious stones.

In tradition

Aqeeq of every colour has a long place in Muslim tradition, and many people in Pakistan wear black aqeeq as a stone of protection against nazar, as a matter of family belief. For the background see aqeeq for men and gemstones for protection. For questions of religious practice, please ask a scholar you trust.

What a ready-made aqeeq ring adds

Many people buy black agate already set in a silver ring. That is convenient, but it makes the stone's price harder to see. The total covers the weight of silver, the making charge and the stone, and the stone is often the smallest of the three. When comparing rings, ask for the silver weight and the making charge separately. A heavier ring with a plain stone can cost more than a lighter ring with a finely polished one, and only the second will look better on your hand.

Buying the loose stone and having it set gives you more control: you choose the exact stone, then the design and metal. See the planned chandi ring with stone page and the stone setting service for how that works.

Pricing traps to avoid

• "Rare natural black" without evidence. A premium for undyed colour needs a convincing reason.
• Paying per ratti for glass. Check for bubbles and a warm, light feel.
• Comparing a cabochon with an engraved stone. Engraving is skilled work and changes the price.
• Ignoring polish. A dull stone is not a bargain, however cheap it is.

Buying black agate from GemStore

Each black agate we list has its own photo, weight and price, with known treatments stated. Cash on Delivery is available anywhere in Pakistan, and you may open the parcel and inspect the stone before paying the rider. Orders are dispatched in one to two working days and arrive in about seven working days by insured, tracked courier, with seven-day returns. A certificate is available on request. For help choosing a size for a ring, message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888.

Shop the stones: black agate.

The beliefs described here are traditions, shared for interest. They are not guaranteed outcomes, religious rulings or medical advice.