Blue is the whole point of aquamarine, and it is also the thing buyers are most often disappointed by. The gem is naturally pale — a soft sea blue rather than the deep sapphire blue people picture when they read the word. Knowing that before you buy is the difference between being delighted and feeling short-changed.

The stone

24.80 carats, which is 27.25 ratti. Rs. 20,250, about Rs. 817 per carat, reference GS-000286. One piece; there is no second one like it.

Where the blue comes from

Aquamarine is beryl — the same mineral as emerald — coloured by traces of iron. Iron in one oxidation state gives the blue; in another it gives the yellow-green that heating is used to remove. Because the colouring element is present in small amounts, saturation is almost always gentle. A large stone helps: the more depth light travels through, the stronger the blue reads, which is why a 24.80 carat stone shows its colour better than a two carat one of identical material.

Judging the blue honestly

• Look at it in daylight, not under a lamp. Aquamarine's colour is at its best in natural light and can look grey under warm indoor bulbs. Judge it the way you will wear it.
• Check for a green cast. Untreated material often leans green. Whether that is a fault depends entirely on your taste — some collectors prefer it.
• Look down through the stone, not across it. Beryl is pleochroic, so the colour changes with viewing direction. A well-cut stone shows its best blue face-up.
• Beware of photographs. Blue is the easiest colour to push in editing. Everything on this site is photographed as it is, with no colour correction.

Why is it not darker?

Because deeply saturated aquamarine is genuinely scarce and priced accordingly. Anything described as a rich, dark blue at an ordinary rate is usually blue topaz, dyed quartz or glass. If a seller's photographs show a sapphire-deep blue on a budget aquamarine, that is a reason to walk away rather than to buy. Our real versus fake gemstones guide covers what gets substituted and how to tell.

Treatment

Aquamarine is commonly heated to remove green tones and leave a purer blue — standard for the gem, permanent and accepted. We have not tested this stone, so the specification reads "treatment not tested" rather than a claim in either direction. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged and a certificate of authenticity comes on request.

What suits a stone this size?

24.80 carats is pendant territory first and a large cocktail or men's ring second. Pale stones gain from an open-back setting, which lets light through and lifts the colour; a closed back makes the same stone look flat. White metal — 925 silver, white gold — keeps the blue clean, where yellow gold warms it towards green.

Durability

Beryl is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Hard enough for daily wear, though a sharp knock on an edge can chip it, so a bezel is safer than tall claws. Warm soapy water and a soft brush.

Ordering

Shape and measurements have not been recorded for this piece — ask on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it. 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. Compare shades across the aquamarine collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aquamarine, known in Urdu as Beruj, with a weight of 24.8 Carat. Its price is Rs. 20,250 — roughly Rs. 817 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000286 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.