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 Dur-e-Najaf vs Moh-e-Najaf: How the Two Najaf Stones Differ
Dur-e-Najaf and Moh-e-Najaf are both natural quartz with the same hardness. The difference is inside: Dur-e-Najaf is clear, colourless rock…
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Gem Journal How to Identify Original Ruby (Yaqoot): 5 Simple Checks
Quick answer: An original ruby is red corundum with a hardness of 9: it scratches glass, shows fine natural inclusions under a loupe, and ne…
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Gem Journal Yellow Sapphire Benefits (Pukhraj) & Who Should Wear It
Quick answer: Yellow sapphire (Pukhraj) is the stone of Jupiter, traditionally worn for prosperity, wisdom and marriage prospects, and is th…
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Gem Journal Real vs Fake Feroza (Turquoise): How to Tell
Quick answer: Real feroza is a soft (5–6 Mohs), slightly porous stone with natural matrix veins and uneven colour; fakes are dyed howlite or…
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Gem Journal Ruby vs Sapphire: What's the Difference?
Quick answer: Ruby and sapphire are the same mineral, corundum (hardness 9); red corundum is called ruby and every other colour — blue, yell…
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Gem Journal Yellow Sapphire vs Citrine: How to Tell Them Apart
Quick answer: Yellow sapphire is corundum (hardness 9, dense, high lustre) while citrine is quartz (hardness 7, lighter, glassier) and costs…
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Gem Journal Natural vs Synthetic Gemstones: What You Need to Know
Quick answer: A natural gemstone formed in the earth and shows tiny irregular inclusions; a synthetic has the same chemistry but was grown i…
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Gem Journal How to Identify Original Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj)
Quick answer: Original yellow sapphire (Pukhraj) is corundum: hardness 9, so it scratches glass and quartz; it feels heavy for its size and…
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Gem Journal Blue Sapphire Benefits (Neelam) & Who Should Wear It
Quick answer: Blue sapphire (Neelam) is the stone of Saturn, worn for discipline, career stability and protection, and traditionally the fas…
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Gem Journal How to Care for Gemstones: Cleaning & Storage Guide
Quick answer: Clean most gemstones with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, dry with a lint-free cloth, and store each stone separately…
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Price guide · Ruby (Yaqoot) Ruby Price in Pakistan: How Yaqoot Is Priced per Carat and per Ratti
Ruby (yaqoot, also called manik) is one of the hardest stones to price by eye. Two red stones of the same weight can sit in completely diffe…
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Price guide · Blue Sapphire (Neelam) Sapphire Price in Pakistan: What You Pay For in a Neelam
Blue sapphire, sold in Pakistan as neelam, is bought for very different reasons. Some buyers want a bright blue stone for a ring. Many are f…
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Beliefs and practice · Red Coral (Marjan) Red Coral (Marjan) Benefits: Tradition, Who Wears It and How to Care for It
Red coral, known across Pakistan as marjan or moonga, has been worn in this region for a very long time. Grandmothers string it for newborns…
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