Buying a coloured stone on the internet 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 at all. A laboratory report is the only document that answers the question independently. This stone is lab certified, and we will send you the report before you commit if you ask for it.

The stone

12.80 carats, which is 14.07 ratti. Shape: oval. Cut: faceted. Body colour: purple. Rs. 18,380, about Rs. 1,436 per carat, reference GS-000238.

What the report confirms

• That it is quartz, and that it is amethyst. Rules out purple glass, dyed quartzite, synthetic corundum and the other substitutes that appear in local markets.
• Natural, not laboratory-grown. Synthetic amethyst exists and is convincing to the eye. This is the single most valuable line on any report.
• Weight and measurements. Independently taken, which matters if you plan to insure the finished piece.
• Treatment, where the laboratory has tested for it. Our own specification sheet still reads "treatment not tested" — if heat is the point for you, say so and we will confirm whether the report covers it before you order.

What a report will not do is grade beauty or set a value. No laboratory will tell you whether the colour is worth Rs. 1,436 a carat — that is a judgement you make by looking, which is why we photograph every stone as it is.

How to use it

1. Ask for the report 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. Check it against the stone on delivery. Weight and measurements on the report should match the stone in your hand. You pay the rider only after the parcel is open.
3. Get a second opinion if you want one. The seven-day return window runs from delivery, so there is time to take it to a laboratory of your own choosing. If the result is not what you expected, the stone goes back unused.

An oval at this weight

12.80 carats in an oval is a generous but wearable size. An oval spreads its weight across a longer face than a round of the same carat, so it looks bigger on the hand, and it has no corners to chip, which keeps the setting simple. Oval mounts are stock at every jeweller in Pakistan, so setting costs stay low. Exact length and width have not been recorded on our sheet — ask and we will measure it.

Is a certified stone worth more?

It should not change what the stone is worth, only your confidence in it. Two stones of identical colour and cut are worth the same; the certified one simply removes a question. Compare it against the rest of the amethyst collection on looks first.

Ordering

One piece only. 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. Background reading in our real versus fake gemstones guide and on the authenticity page.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural amethyst, known in Urdu as Jamunia, with a weight of 12.8 Carat. Its price is Rs. 18,380 — roughly Rs. 1,436 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000238 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.

Above twelve carats you are into collector territory. Pieces this heavy are usually set as pendants or kept loose, and they are prized for the size of rough they came from. If you do set it, choose a bezel or a heavy claw to protect the edges.

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.