People ask for a certified aquamarine for one reason: they want to know it is not blue topaz, dyed quartz or glass. That is exactly the question a certificate answers, and it is worth being precise about what else it does and does not tell you before you pay for one.

The stone

30.35 carats, which is 33.35 ratti. Rs. 25,130, about Rs. 828 per carat, reference GS-000285. One piece only.

What certification confirms

• Species. That it is beryl, and that the variety is aquamarine — not topaz, not synthetic spinel, not glass. This is the line most buyers actually want.
• Natural, not laboratory-grown. Synthetic beryl exists and is convincing to the eye.
• Treatment, where the laboratory tests for it. Our own sheet reads "treatment not tested", so if heating matters to you, ask for a report that covers it specifically.
• Weight and measurements. Independently taken, which matters if you intend to insure a finished piece.

What no certificate does is grade beauty or set a value. No laboratory will tell you whether this colour is worth Rs. 828 a carat — that is a judgement you make by looking, and it is what Cash on Delivery is for.

Getting a report on this stone

1. Before dispatch. Message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will send the stone to an independent laboratory and forward the report. It adds time to delivery and we will tell you how much before you commit.
2. After delivery, yourself. Often better, because the result is unarguably yours. You pay the rider on delivery, then take it to a laboratory of your own choosing. The seven-day return window runs from delivery, so if the report is not what you expected the stone goes back unused.

Our own certificate of authenticity is also available on request. It is our statement, not a third party's, and we say so plainly — a seller's certificate is worth exactly what the seller's reputation is worth. More on the authenticity page, and our lab-certified aquamarine page explains the process end to end.

Why not certify everything in advance?

Because the cost would be built into every price, and most buyers would rather have the lower price. Testing on request keeps the choice with you.

What a certificate will not fix

A documented stone with a dull cut or a washed-out colour is still a dull, washed-out stone. Look at the photographs at full size and compare against the rest of the aquamarine collection before the paperwork enters into it.

Size and durability

30.35 carats is a substantial pendant stone or a large statement ring. Beryl is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale — hard enough for regular wear, though a sharp knock on an edge can chip it, so ask for a bezel rather than tall claws. Warm soapy water and a soft brush.

Ordering

Shape and measurements have not been recorded for this piece; we will measure it on request. 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.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aquamarine, known in Urdu as Beruj, with a weight of 30.35 Carat. Its price is Rs. 25,130 — roughly Rs. 828 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000285 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.