These are the questions buyers ask us most often about buying natural gemstones from GemStore: how we check a stone, how ratti and carat weights relate, how prices are set, how Cash on Delivery works and what happens if you want to send a stone back. For the full detail, see our authenticity page, the shipping and delivery details and the returns policy. To turn a ratti weight into carats, use the carat to ratti converter; for Urdu names such as Neelam, Pukhraj and Yaqoot, see gemstone names in Urdu and English. If your question is not here, WhatsApp us on +92 308 887 3888 or email cod@gemstore.pk, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm, with the product link or your order number.
Authenticity
Are GemStore's gemstones natural?
Yes. We sell natural loose gemstones only, and every stone is inspected before it is listed. Glass, synthetic stones and stones that are not what they were sold to us as do not make it onto the site. Known treatments, such as heating in ruby and sapphire or oiling in emerald, are stated on the listing.
Is the stone in the photos the one I receive?
Yes. Each listing is one individual stone, photographed as it is and listed with its own carat weight. The piece in the photos is the piece we pack and send, small inclusions and all.
Do you provide a certificate?
Yes, a GemStore certificate of authenticity is available on request for any stone you buy. It records the variety, weight, measurements, colour and any treatment we know of. If you want an opinion from outside the shop, independent lab testing can be arranged as well.
What is the difference between a guarantee card, a certificate and a lab report?
The guarantee card is our written promise as the seller, backed by the 7-day return window. The in-house certificate records what we found when we inspected the stone. A lab report comes from an independent laboratory that has no part in the sale, and our authenticity page explains which one suits which kind of stone.
Can I have a stone tested by a lab before I pay?
Yes. Send us the stone's link on WhatsApp before you order and we will explain how independent testing works for that particular stone. For higher-value stones such as Neelam, Pukhraj, Yaqoot, Zamurd or Marjan, we suggest asking for a lab report before you pay.
Does a treated stone mean it is fake?
No. A heated sapphire or an oiled emerald is still a natural stone, and both treatments are long-standing, normal practice in the trade. What matters is that the treatment is disclosed, and we never describe a treated stone as untreated.
Ratti & Carat
What is a ratti?
A ratti is the traditional unit used to weigh gemstones in Pakistan. The standard gem ratti equals 0.91 carat, which is about 0.182 grams. Our carat to ratti converter does the sums for you in both directions.
Why do two jewellers give different ratti weights for the same stone?
Because two different units share the name. The standard ratti used for gemstones is 0.91 carat, while the sunari ratti used by goldsmiths is smaller, about 0.1215 grams or roughly 0.61 carat. Always ask which ratti a weight is quoted in before you compare two stones.
How many ratti are in one carat?
One carat is about 1.1 standard ratti, because 1 divided by 0.91 is 1.099. To go the other way, multiply the ratti weight by 0.91 to get carats. One carat is also exactly 0.2 grams.
How many carats is a 5 ratti stone?
A 5 ratti stone is 4.55 carats in standard ratti (5 x 0.91), which is 0.91 grams. If the seller meant sunari ratti, the same 5 ratti is only about 3.04 carats. That gap is why the unit must be agreed before any price is.
Are your weights given in carat or ratti?
Every listing shows the carat weight, because that is the international unit and the one certificates and lab reports use. To see the weight in standard ratti, divide the carats by 0.91 or use the converter. We are happy to confirm the ratti weight of any stone on WhatsApp.
Does a heavier stone always look bigger?
No. Gems differ in density, so a 3 carat sapphire is noticeably smaller than a 3 carat amethyst. If the stone has to fit a particular ring, check its size in millimetres as well as its weight, and ask us for measurements if they are not on the listing.
Price
How are your prices set?
Each stone is priced on its own, by its variety, colour, clarity, cut, size, origin where we know it, and any treatment. Two stones of the same type and weight can differ a great deal in price because of colour and clarity alone. You pay the price shown for that one stone.
Where can I see what gemstones cost?
Our gemstone prices in Pakistan guide shows the lowest, typical and highest prices across GemStore's own listings for each stone type, per stone, per carat and per ratti, refreshed monthly. Each category page then lists every individual stone with its own price, so you can compare real pieces.
How is the per-carat price worked out?
The per-carat rate is simply the stone's price divided by its carat weight. That makes it easy to compare two stones of the same type side by side, even when their weights differ.
How do I turn a per-ratti quote into a per-carat rate?
If the quote is in standard ratti, divide the per-ratti rate by 0.91 to get the per-carat rate; to go the other way, multiply the per-carat rate by 0.91. Confirm which ratti the seller uses first, because a sunari ratti rate gives a very different answer. The converter page shows worked examples.
Why do bigger stones cost more per carat?
Large, clean, well-coloured stones are much rarer than small ones, so for most gems the per-carat rate climbs as the weight goes up. When you judge whether a rate is fair, compare stones of similar size, colour and treatment. Our shop also has budget filters if you prefer to start from what you want to spend.
Delivery & COD
Can I pay Cash on Delivery?
Yes, anywhere in Pakistan. You pay the rider in cash when the parcel arrives, so nothing is paid in advance.
Can I open the parcel before I pay?
Yes. You may open the parcel and inspect the stone before paying the rider. If anything looks different from the listing, contact us on WhatsApp straight away, and the 7-day return window still applies after you have paid.
How long does delivery take?
We dispatch within 1 to 2 working days, and delivery usually takes about 7 working days. Parcels travel by insured, tracked courier, so you can ask us for the tracking number at any time.
How much does delivery cost?
Please see our delivery details on the shipping policy page for the current charge. It is charged per order, not per stone, so several stones in one order travel together.
Which cities do you deliver to?
We deliver to every city in Pakistan by insured, tracked courier. If you live in a smaller town, send us your address on WhatsApp and we will confirm that the courier reaches it.
Do you deliver outside Pakistan?
No. GemStore delivers within Pakistan only, and all prices and payments are in Pakistani rupees.
Returns
What is your return policy?
You have 7 days from delivery to return a stone for a refund or an exchange. It must be unused, in its original condition and in its original packaging, with its certificate if one was issued.
What cannot be returned?
Stones that have been set in jewellery, recut or altered cannot be returned. Custom-cut and other bespoke items are not returnable either, unless they arrive damaged or are not as described, in which case contact us within the same 7 days.
How do I start a return?
WhatsApp or call +92 308 887 3888, or email cod@gemstore.pk, within 7 days of delivery. Give us your order number and a short reason, with photos if you think the stone differs from the listing, and we will reply with return instructions.
How are refunds paid?
Once the stone is back with us, we check that it is the same stone in the same condition. The refund is then processed within 3 to 5 business days, by bank transfer because orders are paid by Cash on Delivery.
Can I exchange a stone for a different one?
Yes. Choose another stone from the shop and tell us when you request the return. If the new stone costs more or less than the original, we settle the difference with you.
Wearing & Islamic stones
Which gemstone should I wear?
Start with the colour, size and budget you like. If an astrologer or elder has recommended a particular stone, tell us which one and we will suggest individual stones that match. Our guide to which gemstone to wear explains the usual approaches.
Which finger and metal should a gemstone be worn in?
That depends on the tradition you follow. In Vedic astrology, for example, Pukhraj is traditionally worn on the index finger in gold and Neelam on the middle finger in silver. Follow the advice of whoever recommended the stone, since customs vary between families and astrologers.
What are Islamic gemstones?
These are stones with a long place in Muslim tradition, such as Aqeeq, Feroza, Dur-e-Najaf and Moh-e-Najaf. Many families wear Aqeeq in a silver ring or keep a stone tasbih. For any question of religious ruling, ask a scholar you trust.
Why do many men choose silver for a stone ring?
Many Muslim men choose silver because of the widely held view that gold jewellery is for women, and silver suits stones such as Aqeeq, Feroza and Dur-e-Najaf. If you are unsure what applies to you, ask a scholar you trust.
Should the stone touch the skin?
Many astrologers traditionally advise an open-back setting so the stone touches the skin. This is a matter of belief rather than something we can promise, so follow the advice you were given.
Can you set my stone in a ring?
Custom silver ring settings can be discussed on WhatsApp. Send us the stone you have chosen and your ring size, and our ring size guide shows how to measure your finger at home.
Care
How do I clean a gemstone?
Wash it in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, brush gently with a soft brush and dry it with a soft cloth. Softer and porous stones such as pearl, coral, amber, feroza and malachite need only a wipe with a damp cloth.
How should I store loose stones?
Keep each stone on its own in a soft pouch or a lined box. Hard stones such as sapphire and ruby will scratch softer ones such as opal, pearl and agate if they are kept loose together.
Can I use an ultrasonic cleaner?
Not for oiled emeralds, opal, pearl, coral, amber, feroza, lapis lazuli or malachite, because heat and vibration can damage them. Even for hard stones, ask us first if the stone has fractures or a treatment.
Can a gemstone's colour fade?
Some can. Kunzite and amethyst may pale after long exposure to strong sunlight, so store them out of the sun. Most sapphires, rubies and garnets keep their colour.
Should I take my ring off for chores?
Yes. Remove it for cleaning with chemicals, gardening, the gym and heavy work, and put it on after perfume and cream rather than before. A knock can chip even a hard stone along its edge.