In this article
Quetta has stood for centuries on the routes linking South Asia with Afghanistan and Iran, and gemstones have always been part of that trade. Rough and cut stones from Afghanistan and from Pakistan's own northern mountains still pass through the region. Living near a trading hub teaches you what rough looks like; it also means imitation material travels the same roads as the real thing. GemStore delivers natural, individually photographed stones to Quetta by insured, tracked courier with Cash on Delivery.
Stones of the trade route
- Lapis lazuli from Badakhshan in north-east Afghanistan, one of the oldest continuously worked gem sources in the world. Good lapis is a deep, even blue, sometimes with fine golden flecks of pyrite.
- Emerald (zamurd) from Afghanistan's Panjshir valley and from Swat in Pakistan.
- Tourmaline in pinks, greens and blues from the pegmatites of eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.
- Peridot (zabarjad), the bright green stone of Pakistan's Kohistan region.
- Aquamarine and garnet from the northern mountains.
Quick checks for trade-route stones
| Stone | Common imitation | Simple check |
|---|---|---|
| Lapis lazuli | Dyed lapis, dyed howlite or sodalite | With the seller's permission, rub a hidden spot with a cotton bud and a little acetone. Blue on the cotton suggests dye. |
| Emerald | Green glass; heavily resin-filled stones | Under a loupe, natural stones show irregular inclusions; round gas bubbles point to glass. |
| Peridot | Green glass | Peridot shows strong doubling of facet edges under a loupe; glass does not. |
| Any stone | Synthetics sold as "top quality" | Ask the carat weight and compare the per-carat rate; very cheap perfection is rarely natural. |
Home checks only suggest; an independent laboratory confirms. Our gemstone buying guide has more.
Rough or a finished stone?
Buying rough is a gamble on what it will yield after cutting, and it is rarely sold with any paperwork. A finished stone from GemStore is a known quantity: each listing is one natural stone, cut, weighed and photographed as it is, and priced on its own. We inspect every stone and disclose known treatments; emeralds, for example, are commonly oiled, which is normal but should be stated. A certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent lab testing can be arranged. See our authenticity page.
Classic and traditional stones
Quetta customers also order the precious and ring stones worn across Pakistan: neelam (blue sapphire), yaqoot (ruby), pukhraj (yellow sapphire), aqeeq and feroza. Feroza, from the Persian firoza, has a long tradition across the Persian-speaking world as a stone worn for protection. These are traditions and beliefs, not promised effects. The rashi guide covers astrological pairings, and the gemstone names page gives Urdu, Persian-derived and English names.
How delivery to Quetta works
Choose a stone in the shop or send your requirements on WhatsApp. We dispatch from Lahore within 1-2 working days, and the insured, tracked courier delivers within about 7 working days to addresses across Quetta, including Satellite Town, Jinnah Road and Cantt. Shipping is a flat Rs. 500 per order. Each product page shows the price of that individual stone.
- Cash on Delivery: inspect the stone against its photographs before paying the courier.
- 7-day returns: for a refund or exchange, if the stone is unused and in its original packaging. See the return policy and shipping policy.
- Ring setting: a custom silver ring setting can be discussed on WhatsApp.
Contact GemStore
WhatsApp is the easiest way to reach us from Quetta: +92 308 887 3888. Email cod@gemstore.pk, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm, or send a message. GemStore Pakistan: WhatsApp or call +92 308 887 3888, email cod@gemstore.pk.
Popular stones for Quetta: Aqeeq · Emerald · Labradorite · Lapis Lazuli · Moonstone · Moss Agate · Opal · Peridot · Tiger Eye · Tourmaline — or see all 1,000 stones.
Other cities we deliver to: Karachi · Lahore · Islamabad · Rawalpindi · Faisalabad · Multan · Peshawar · Hyderabad · Gujranwala · Sialkot · Bahawalpur · Sargodha · Sukkur · Larkana · Abbottabad · Mardan · Gujrat · Jhelum · Sahiwal · Rahim Yar Khan · Dera Ghazi Khan · Mirpur (AJK) · Gilgit · Skardu