The emerald cut and aquamarine belong together more than almost any other gem-and-shape pairing. The cut was designed for beryl — emerald is the same mineral — and the long, flat, stepped facets suit a transparent pale stone in a way the scattered sparkle of a brilliant never quite does.

The stone

13.25 carats, which is 14.56 ratti. Emerald cut — a rectangular step cut with clipped corners. Rs. 14,630, about Rs. 1,104 per carat, reference GS-000276.

What a step cut does differently

• It shows colour as broad planes. Instead of breaking light into small flashes, the stepped facets act like mirrors, giving long sweeps of blue. On a pale gem this reads as calm and deliberate rather than washed out.
• It shows clarity too. The large open table is a clear window into the stone. There is nowhere for an inclusion to hide, which is why cutters reserve the emerald cut for material they trust.
• It looks larger for its weight. A step cut is shallower than a brilliant, so more of the carat weight sits in the face you see.
• It flatters the hand. Set along the finger, a rectangular outline elongates it.
• The corners are clipped for a reason. A true square's points chip easily. The angled corners on an emerald cut are a structural feature, not decoration — important for beryl, which can chip on an edge.

What to check in a step cut

Three things, all visible in a straight-down photograph. The parallel lines of the steps should be straight and evenly spaced — wavy steps mean a rushed cut. The corners should be even on all four. And look for a window: hold it over printed text, and if you can read through the centre, the pavilion angles are wrong and light is falling out of the back. Ask us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 for the photograph and a video under moving light.

Why the emerald cut costs what it does

A step cut wastes less rough than a brilliant, but it demands far better material, because every inclusion is on display. The rate here — just over Rs. 1,100 per carat, against Rs. 600 for our larger included stones — is paying for clarity, not for the shape.

Setting it

Open back, so light enters from behind and lifts the blue. Claws should cover the four clipped corners. White metal keeps the colour clean; yellow gold warms it. Length, width and depth have not been recorded for this piece, and on a rectangular stone the ratio decides how the ring reads, so ask us to measure it before your jeweller orders a mount.

Treatment

Aquamarine is commonly heated to remove green tones and leave a purer blue — standard and stable. We have not tested this stone, so the specification says so rather than claiming it is unheated. A certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged.

Durability

Beryl is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaners.

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. See the other cuts in the aquamarine collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aquamarine, known in Urdu as Beruj, with a weight of 13.25 Carat. Its price is Rs. 14,630 — roughly Rs. 1,104 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000276 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 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.