Buying a coloured stone online comes down to one question: how do you know. Photographs can be edited, descriptions can be optimistic, and "100% original" printed on a listing proves nothing. A laboratory report is the only document that answers the question independently, and with aquamarine it answers a very specific one — whether you are looking at beryl or at blue topaz.

The stone

2.70 carats, which is 2.97 ratti. Origin: Afghanistan. Rs. 6,750, about Rs. 2,500 per carat, reference GS-000269. One piece only.

What a report on this gem confirms

• Species: beryl, variety aquamarine. The line that matters most here, because blue topaz, dyed quartz, synthetic spinel and glass all appear in local markets at a similar colour.
• Natural, not laboratory-grown. Synthetic beryl exists and is convincing to the eye.
• Treatment, where the laboratory tests for it. Our own sheet still reads "treatment not tested" — aquamarine is commonly heated to remove green tones, and if that matters to you, say so and we will confirm the report covers it before you order.
• Weight and measurements. Independently taken, useful if you intend to insure a finished piece.

What no report does is grade beauty or set a value. No laboratory will tell you whether this colour is worth Rs. 2,500 a carat — that is a judgement you make by looking.

Two ways to get the report

1. Before dispatch. Message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will send you a copy so you can read it before the stone is on its way.
2. After delivery, yourself. Often better, because the result is unarguably yours. You pay the rider on delivery, then take it to a laboratory of your own choosing. The seven-day return window runs from delivery, so if the result is not what you expected the stone goes back unused.

Our lab-certified aquamarine page explains the process end to end, and the authenticity page covers how we inspect stones before listing them.

Why a small stone costs what it does per carat

The rate here is set by size rather than grandeur: the fixed cost of cutting is spread over very few carats, and beryl carries no scarcity premium for weight. A large stone in the same collection costs a quarter of this per carat.

Origin

Recorded as Afghanistan, the source of most aquamarine reaching Pakistani dealers. No routine report names a country for this gem, so take that as what our records state rather than a laboratory finding.

Durability and care

Beryl is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaners, which beryl with liquid inclusions does not tolerate well.

Ordering

Shape and measurements have not been recorded; we will measure it on request. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery, seven days to return it unused.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aquamarine, known in Urdu as Beruj, with a weight of 2.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,750 — roughly Rs. 2,500 for each carat. Origin: Afghanistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000269 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale aquamarine rates 7.5 to 8. It handles daily wear, but a hard knock can still nick an exposed corner, so a protective setting is a sensible choice. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep it away from abrasive cleaners and high heat.

Whoever you buy aquamarine from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every aquamarine for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Aquamarine is commonly heated to remove green tones and leave a purer blue. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.