If you are buying a stone to have something made, the question is not which aquamarine is finest — it is which one gives your jeweller the most to work with for the money. On that test this stone is hard to beat: 26.20 carats at about Rs. 429 per carat, when small stones in the same collection run past Rs. 2,000.

The stone

26.20 carats, which is 28.79 ratti. Origin: Afghanistan. Rs. 11,250, about Rs. 429 per carat, reference GS-000268. One piece only.

The jeweller's checklist

1. Is there enough weight for the design? At over twenty-six carats this carries a cocktail ring, a men's silver ring or a substantial pendant without looking thin.
2. Is the material durable enough to set? Beryl is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Harder than quartz, and unlike its cousin emerald it is usually free of the fractures that make a stone nervous under a setter's tools.
3. Will the colour survive the mount? Only with an open back. This is the one instruction that matters most for aquamarine — light from behind is what lifts a pale blue.
4. Are there corners to protect? Shape is not recorded for this piece, so ask us before the mount is designed. Beryl can chip on a sharp edge, which decides bezel versus claws.
5. Can it be replaced? Yes, and that matters more than people think. If a stone is damaged during setting, aquamarine at this size can be matched. A rare gem cannot.

Why this one is such good value

Two things working together. Beryl grows in large clean crystals, so size carries no scarcity premium — and the fixed cost of cutting is spread across many more carats. The result is a per-carat rate that falls as the stone gets bigger, which is the opposite of what happens with sapphire or ruby. Our aquamarine price guide works the arithmetic through.

What is not recorded

Shape, measurements and clarity grade are not on the sheet for this piece, and we leave those fields honest rather than filling them with plausible values. Your jeweller will need the dimensions before making or ordering a mount, so ask us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it and photograph it against a scale.

Origin and treatment

Origin is recorded as Afghanistan, the source of most aquamarine reaching Pakistani dealers. Aquamarine is commonly heated to remove green tones and leave a purer blue — standard, permanent and accepted — and we have not had this stone tested, 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.

Care

Warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaners. Take a ring off for heavy work; most damage happens to the setting rather than the stone.

Ordering

Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. Compare the whole range in the aquamarine collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aquamarine, known in Urdu as Beruj, with a weight of 26.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,250 — roughly Rs. 429 for each carat. Origin: Afghanistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000268 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.