The round brilliant is the most calculated shape in gem cutting. Its angles were worked out mathematically to send as much light as possible back through the top of the stone, and nothing since has beaten it at that job. In a coloured stone that brilliance does something specific: it adds life to the colour instead of just displaying it.

The stone

11.30 carats, which is 12.42 ratti. Round cut, faceted, body colour violet. Rs. 18,000, about Rs. 1,593 per carat, reference GS-000244.

What a round cut gives you

• Maximum return of light. More sparkle per carat than any other standard shape, which matters most in a mid-tone stone like this one.
• No weak points. No corners to chip, so claws and bezels are both straightforward and the setting can stay low and comfortable.
• Standard mounts everywhere. Round settings are stock at every jeweller in Pakistan, which keeps the cost of setting down and makes a future reset easy.
• Symmetry you can check yourself. Rotate the stone slowly. The outline should not wobble and the facets should line up in rings. A lopsided round is immediately obvious in a way a lopsided freeform is not.

Violet rather than reddish purple

The recorded body colour of this stone is violet — a purple that leans towards blue rather than red. The reddish purples command higher prices in the international trade, but violet has its own advantages: it reads as cleaner and cooler, it sits well against white metal, and it does not fight with a blue stone next to it in the same design. Paired with a round cut, which already adds brightness, the result is a lively stone rather than a heavy one.

The trade-off worth knowing

A round cut keeps less of the original rough than an oval or a cushion, so cutters lose more weight making one. That lost weight is paid for in the price — part of why round stones carry a slightly higher rate than freeform cuts of the same material. You are paying for the shape as well as the stone, which is a fair trade if brilliance is what you want and a poor one if raw size is.

How do I check the cut myself?

Hold the stone over a line of printed text and look straight down. If you can read the words through the middle of the table, there is a window — light is escaping through the back instead of returning to your eye, and the stone will look flat however good the colour is. A well-cut round shows a bright, busy centre instead. Ask us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 for a video under moving light and you can judge it before it ships.

Measurements

The diameter has not been recorded for this piece. We will measure it on request so your jeweller can order or make the right mount before the stone arrives.

Treatment and certification

Treatment has not been tested; the specification says so. Mild heating is accepted practice on amethyst. A certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched within one to two working days. Cash on Delivery after inspection, seven days to return it unused. The other cuts are in the amethyst collection, and the carat to ratti converter helps if your jeweller works in ratti.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural amethyst, known in Urdu as Jamunia, with a weight of 11.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 18,000 — roughly Rs. 1,593 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000244 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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

On the Mohs scale amethyst rates 7. 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 amethyst 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 amethyst 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): Amethyst is usually untreated, though some stones are heated to lighten the colour. 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.