Gem Journal
Learn the stone before you buy it
Straight answers on identifying, pricing, choosing and caring for natural gemstones — written for buyers in Pakistan, with the Urdu names you already know.
Gem Journal · Ruby Ruby (Yaqoot) Benefits: What Tradition Says and What the Stone Really Offers
Ask about ruby in any Pakistani family and you will hear two kinds of answer. One is about belief: yaqoot as the stone of the Sun, of honour…
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Gem Journal · Sapphire Real or Fake Neelam? How to Check a Blue Sapphire (Asli Ki Pehchan)
Blue sapphire, neelam, is one of the most copied stones sold in Pakistan. The fakes range from obvious blue glass to lab-grown sapphire that…
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Gem Journal · Red Coral Real or Fake Marjan? How to Check Red Coral (Asli Ki Pehchan)
Red coral, marjan or moonga, is one of the easiest stones to imitate and one of the hardest for an ordinary buyer to check. It is organic, o…
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Gem Journal · Amethyst Amethyst (Jamunia) Benefits: Traditional Beliefs and Who Wears It
Amethyst, jamunia in Urdu after the dark purple jamun fruit, is the stone many Pakistani families turn to when an astrologer mentions Saturn…
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Gem Journal · Dur-e-Najaf Dur-e-Najaf Price in Pakistan: What Sets It and How to Compare Quotes
Dur-e-najaf is natural colourless quartz, rock crystal, and for many Muslim families in Pakistan, especially Shia families, it is a stone of…
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Gem Journal · Opal Ethiopian Opal Price in Pakistan: What You Pay For and How to Compare
Ethiopian opal changed the opal market. Before large deposits were found in Ethiopia's Welo region, a bright opal with strong colour flashes…
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Gem Journal · Iron Tiger Eye Iron Tiger Eye Price in Pakistan: What You Are Paying For
Iron tiger eye, also called tiger iron, is one of the more affordable natural stones you can buy in Pakistan, and one of the most striking…
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Gem Journal · Tourmaline Tourmaline Price in Pakistan: Colour, Clarity and Fair Quotes
Tourmaline has one of the widest price spreads of any gem sold in Pakistan. It comes in nearly every colour, and the colour type alone can m…
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Wearing guide How to Wear Ruby (Yaqoot): Finger, Hand, Metal and Day
Short answer: by long custom a ruby (yaqoot, also called manik) is worn on the ring finger of the right hand, set in gold or copper, and fir…
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Wearing guide How to Wear Blue Sapphire (Neelam): Finger, Metal and Daily Wear
Short answer: by tradition a blue sapphire (neelam) is worn on the middle finger of the right hand, set in silver, white gold or panchdhatu…
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Wearing guide How to Wear Red Coral (Marjan): Finger, Metal, Day and Care
Short answer: by tradition red coral (marjan, also moonga) is worn on the ring finger of the right hand, set in gold, copper or silver, and…
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Asli ki pehchan Real or Fake Amethyst (Jamunia): How to Check Before You Buy
Short answer: glass imitations of amethyst can usually be caught at home with a loupe, a sheet of white paper and some patience. Synthetic a…
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Buying guide Dur-e-Najaf Buying Guide: Choosing a Clear Stone in Pakistan
Short answer: a good dur-e-najaf is natural colourless quartz (rock crystal) that is clear to the eye or shows only fine natural veils, is c…
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