Natural Smoky Quartz Stone in Pakistan

Being sourced now

We do not have smoky quartz listed yet. We are sourcing natural stones and will add each one individually, with its own photos, once it passes our checks. Send a message on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 with the colour, size or shape you want, and we will contact you when a suitable stone comes in. You can also email cod@gemstore.pk or use our contact page.

What smoky quartz is

Smoky quartz is the same mineral as clear Billaur: silicon dioxide, rated 7 on the Mohs scale. Its colour comes from tiny traces of aluminium in the crystal that have been exposed to natural radiation from surrounding rock over a very long time. The longer and stronger that exposure, the darker the stone.

Pakistan is a good source. The pegmatites of Gilgit-Baltistan, including the valleys around Skardu, yield smoky quartz crystals alongside aquamarine, feldspar and topaz, and some are among the cleanest you will see. See Gilgit-Baltistan gemstones and Skardu aquamarine.

Shades and varieties

• Light smoky: pale tan to light grey-brown, bright when faceted.
• Medium to dark brown: the classic smoky colour, warm and even.
• Cairngorm: an old Scottish name for yellowish to reddish brown smoky quartz.
• Morion: very dark to opaque black quartz.
• Rutilated smoky quartz: smoky quartz with golden needles, closely related to Moh-e-Najaf.

How to tell real smoky quartz from fakes

The main concerns are glass, artificial irradiation and misleading names:

• Brown glass: may show round bubbles or swirl lines, warms quickly in the hand and often has rounded facet edges.
• Irradiated clear quartz: clear quartz exposed to radiation in a laboratory turns smoky. A very dark, perfectly even stone that is flawless and cheap may be treated this way. It is often impossible to prove by eye.
• "Smoky topaz": a misleading trade name for smoky quartz. Real brown topaz is a different mineral, so ask what the stone actually is.
• Obsidian: natural volcanic glass, sometimes sold as dark smoky quartz; it shows no double refraction.

A lab confirms quartz quickly. See checking a gemstone before you buy.

Treatments

Artificial irradiation of clear quartz is common and produces a stable colour, but it should be disclosed. Heating does the opposite: it lightens smoky quartz and can remove the colour completely, and some yellow quartz on the market began as smoky or purple quartz. When we list smoky quartz, any known treatment will be stated.

What drives value

An even, attractive brown without a dull grey cast is most wanted, and medium tones usually look brightest when faceted. Transparency and clarity follow, since eye-clean stones show the colour best. Cut matters a great deal, because a well-cut smoky quartz sparkles while a poor one looks flat and dark. Size has a modest effect, as large clean pieces are not rare. Well-formed rutile needles can add value of their own. Smoky quartz is an affordable stone; see the gemstone price guide and our stones under 5,000 rupees.

Care

Smoky quartz is hard enough for rings worn daily. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Keep it away from strong heat, which can fade the colour, and from long hours in direct sunlight. Store it apart from harder stones to avoid scratches.

Smoky quartz in tradition

Many people traditionally regard smoky quartz as a grounding, steadying stone, and dark stones are worn in many families as protection against nazar. These are beliefs, not promised effects. See gemstones for protection and against nazar.

Smoky quartz, citrine and Moh-e-Najaf

These three are all quartz and often sit side by side in the bazaar. Citrine is yellow to golden, and much of it is heated quartz. Moh-e-Najaf is quartz with fine needles inside, and its body colour can be clear or smoky. If a seller offers "smoky citrine" or "brown Moh-e-Najaf", ask which name best describes the stone and whether the colour is natural.

Choosing a shape and setting

Light and medium smoky quartz shows best faceted, in ovals, cushions or emerald cuts that bring out its sparkle. Darker stones and morion suit cabochons, beads and flat tablets, where a high polish gives a deep, glassy shine. Smoky quartz is popular for men's rings in silver and for larger pendants, since big clean stones are easy to find. Ask whether the colour is natural and, if the stone is from Pakistan, where it was mined. See gemstone rings for men and chandi rings with stone.

Brown and earthy stones you can buy now

Browse tiger eye, Moh-e-Najaf and citrine, or see our topaz collection for a different mineral in warm tones.

When a stone is listed, you will be able to order it with Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan, open the parcel and inspect it before paying the rider, and return it within 7 days if it is not right for you. Orders are dispatched in 1 to 2 working days by insured, tracked courier. A certificate is available on request, and independent lab testing can be arranged.