Natural Gemstones in Abbottabad

Natural stones for Abbottabad and the Hazara towns, sent by insured courier from Lahore with Cash on Delivery.

Abbottabad is the main town of the Hazara division, set in a green bowl of hills with a climate cool enough to make it a summer escape for families from the plains. It is named after James Abbott, the British officer who laid it out in the 1850s, and it is known nationally for its schools and for the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul. The Karakoram Highway runs north from Havelian through Abbottabad and Mansehra towards Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, the same road along which much of Pakistan's mountain gem rough has travelled south for decades. GemStore is an online store in Lahore. We have no shop in Abbottabad, but we deliver natural stones across Hazara with Cash on Delivery.

Stones popular in Abbottabad, and why

Buyers here are often interested in the stones of the northern mountains, alongside the classic astrological set:

• Peridot (zabarjad): Pakistan's best-known peridot comes from Kohistan, upstream along the highway. Read more on Kohistan peridot.
• Emerald (zamurd): Swat's emerald deposits are not far to the west, and a Swat stone has a soft, slightly bluish green that many local buyers recognise. See Swat emerald.
• Aquamarine (beruj): the pale blue stone of the Gilgit-Baltistan pegmatites, popular as a gift.
• Neelam and pukhraj: still the stones most families ask about on an astrologer's advice, linked with Saturn and Jupiter in Vedic astrology.
• Aqeeq: the everyday ring stone for many men in Hazara, worn in silver.

Planetary and protective meanings are traditions. We describe them, but we do not promise any result.

Checking a stone locally

Being close to the highway means Abbottabad sees a fair amount of rough and cut stone passing through, some of it fine and some of it glass or heavily treated material passed off as "pahari" stone. A few checks help:

1. Daylight first. Look at the stone by a window, not under a counter light.
2. Ask about treatment and origin separately. "From Swat" or "from Kohistan" is a claim. Origin can only be supported by a laboratory, and even then not always.
3. Watch for too-perfect emerald. Natural emerald almost always has visible inclusions, called jardin. A flawless, cheap green stone is usually glass or synthetic. Our emerald real or fake guide explains more.
4. Compare by carat, or by the standard ratti of 0.91 carat. The goldsmith's sunari ratti is about 0.61 carat, so always ask which is meant. The carat to ratti converter does the sums.

Delivery to Abbottabad and Hazara

We dispatch from Lahore within 1 to 2 working days. The insured, tracked courier then delivers within about 7 working days to Abbottabad city, Jinnahabad, Supply and the Cantonment, and to Havelian, Mansehra, Haripur, Nathia Gali and Ayubia. In winter, snow on the Galiyat roads can occasionally slow deliveries to the higher villages. Charges are explained in our shipping policy, and the gemstone delivery page covers tracking and packaging.

Cash on Delivery: inspect before paying

You can pay in cash when the parcel arrives. Open it in front of the rider, look at the stone against the listing photographs and only then pay. Each GemStore listing is a single stone with its own photographs, weight and price, so there is no switch between what you chose and what arrives. Not sure what to choose? Message us your budget on WhatsApp, or start with the 5,000 to 20,000 rupee range.

Certificates and returns

Every stone is natural, with known treatments disclosed. A certificate is available on request, and independent lab testing can be arranged; the authenticity page sets this out. You may return an unused stone within 7 days of delivery for a refund or exchange, as explained in the return policy.

Stones for students and young officers

Abbottabad's schools, colleges and the academy at Kakul mean many parents here buy a first ring for a son or daughter. For daily wear in a hostel or on training, choose a hard stone in a simple, low setting. Sapphire, ruby and aquamarine take knocks better than opal, pearl or emerald. Our gemstone ring for men guide covers shapes and settings, and the ring size guide helps you order the right size.

Contact GemStore

WhatsApp +92 308 887 3888, email cod@gemstore.pk, or the contact page. Our office is at 63-B Main Boulevard Gulberg, Lahore.