Dark purple is what most people picture when they hear "amethyst", and it is the hardest end of the range to buy well. Too little depth and the stone looks washed out; too much and it closes up and goes black the moment you step away from a window. The stones worth owning sit at the point where the colour is dense but light still moves through it.

Weight, colour and price

17.50 carats — 19.23 ratti. Faceted, in a dark purple rather than the paler lilac that large amethysts often fall into. Rs. 26,250, which is about Rs. 1,500 per carat, under reference GS-000251.

That per-carat figure is worth dwelling on. It is lower than the rate on our four and five carat amethysts, which surprises people who expect big stones to cost more per carat. For most gems that is true, because large clean rough is rare. Amethyst is the exception: it occurs in large crystals, so the scarcity premium barely applies, and the fixed cost of cutting is spread across many more carats.

Living with a dark stone

• Check it indoors before you commit. Dark amethyst looks magnificent in daylight and can flatten under a ceiling light. Ask us for a video under ordinary room light on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and judge it the way you will actually see it.
• Ask for an open-back setting. Light entering from behind is what keeps a deep purple alive. A closed back makes the same stone look several shades darker.
• Pair it with white metal. 925 silver, white gold and platinum all lift a dark purple. Yellow gold deepens it further, which can be too much of a good thing.
• Size works in your favour here. A large dark stone has more depth for light to travel through than a small one, so at 17.50 carats the colour reads as rich rather than opaque.

Designing around a stone this size

A pendant is the easiest home for it — a heavy chain balances the weight and nothing has to fit. A cocktail ring needs a broad shank and a strong gallery, and it will sit proud, which is the point. In the traditional men's style still common across Pakistan it works well in a wide 925 silver band.

Shape and exact measurements have not been recorded for this piece. Before a jeweller cuts a mount, ask us for them and we will measure it and photograph it against a scale.

Is a bigger amethyst a better investment?

No, and we would rather say so. Amethyst is a stone to wear and enjoy, not a store of value — it is plentiful, and the resale market in Pakistan is thin. Buy it because you like the colour on your hand.

Treatment

Not tested on this stone, and our specification says exactly that. Gentle heating is accepted practice on amethyst and does not make it less natural. We can arrange an independent laboratory report if you want certainty, and the seven-day return window gives you time to get your own.

Ordering and care

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan by insured, tracked courier, dispatched in one to two working days, Cash on Delivery after inspection, seven days to return it unused. Amethyst is 7 on the Mohs scale: clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep it out of long direct sunlight, which pales deep purple faster than it does light stones. Compare it with the rest of the amethyst collection, or read how rates are set in our gemstone price guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural amethyst, known in Urdu as Jamunia, with a weight of 17.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 26,250 — roughly Rs. 1,500 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000251 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.