Ten carats is the size most buyers settle on for a black agate ring, and it is worth understanding why rather than just taking the number. Below about eight carats the stone starts to look like an accent rather than the point of the ring; much above fifteen and it begins to overhang the finger on an average hand.

The stone

10 carats, which is 10.99 ratti. Rs. 7,600, about Rs. 760 per carat, reference GS-BL-0018. One piece only.

What 10 carats looks like on a hand

People read carats as an abstract number and then get a surprise when the parcel arrives, so here is the practical version. A 10 carat agate cabochon covers most of the width of an average adult finger. Set in a 7 to 9 mm silver bezel it reads as a proper gemstone ring rather than a dress ring, and it still passes under a shirt cuff without snagging. It is the size a silversmith will assume if you walk in and ask for "a kala aqeeq for a ring" without saying anything else.

Why the rate does not change with size

Look across our black agate listings and you will find roughly Rs. 700 per carat from five carats to thirty-three. That is deliberate and it tells you something about the stone: agate forms in volcanic cavities in enormous quantity, so there is no scarcity premium for weight, and the cutting is straightforward cabochon work rather than precision faceting. If somebody quotes you a steeply higher rate for a larger agate, ask what justifies it. Our black agate price guide sets out the arithmetic.

Setting it

A low full bezel in 925 silver, on a 7 to 9 mm shank. The rim protects the edge where chips start and keeps the ring comfortable for daily wear. Claws add nothing to an opaque stone and catch on cloth. Shape and measurements have not been recorded for this piece; send your finger size on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure the stone and quote a mount separately.

The dye

Black agate is almost always dyed — standard for the stone type and stated on our specification sheet. A sugar solution followed by acid carbonises inside the stone's pores and blackens it from within; the colour is permanent and the material stays natural agate. Our black agate buying guide explains the process.

Durability

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage planes, which makes it one of the more forgiving stones for a ring worn every day. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach and no ultrasonic cleaner. Water is harmless, so wudu is fine — dry the ring afterwards.

Verification

A certificate of authenticity comes on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. You pay the rider only once the parcel is open, and the seven-day return window runs from delivery.

Ordering

Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. More sizes in the black agate collection, and the carat to ratti converter if your jeweller works in ratti.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural black agate with a weight of 10 Carat. Its price is Rs. 7,600 — roughly Rs. 760 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-BL-0018 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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

On the Mohs scale black agate rates 6.5 to 7. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy black agate 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 black agate 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): Black agate is almost always dyed — it is standard for the stone. 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.