"Premium quality" is the least useful phrase in the gemstone trade, because nobody has to define it. With a plain black stone it is harder still — there is no colour to grade, no clarity to assess, no play of light to judge. So what is left? Three things, and this page sets them out.

The stone

16.15 carats, which is 17.75 ratti. Rs. 11,300, about Rs. 700 per carat, reference GS-BL-0022. Note that the rate is the same as every other black agate we list — we have not raised it to match the word on the label.

What quality means in black agate

1. The cut. Most black agate is a plain domed cabochon. This stone is faceted in a step cut with clipped corners — long, flat planes rather than a smooth dome. That is considerably more work, it is uncommon in this material, and it gives a black stone something a cabochon cannot: defined edges that catch light in straight lines.
2. The polish. On a plain black stone the polish is most of the quality, because there is nothing else to look at. Agate takes a glassy finish easily, so a dull or scratchy surface means a rushed job rather than difficult material. Look for crisp facet junctions.
3. Evenness of colour. Hold it to a strong light at the thin edges. Patchiness or a brownish cast there tells you how evenly the dye took.

Why a step cut on an opaque stone

It is a deliberate choice rather than a default. A cabochon on black agate reads as one soft highlight; a step cut breaks the surface into planes that each pick up light separately, so the stone reads sharper and more deliberate — closer to black onyx jewellery of the art deco period than to a traditional ring stone. It also means more facet junctions to get right, which is where a careless cutter shows.

The treatment, stated plainly

Black agate is almost always dyed, and that includes premium material. It is standard for this stone type and our specification sheet says so. Natural grey agate is soaked in a sugar solution and then in acid, which carbonises inside the pores and blackens the stone from within — a method close to two centuries old, permanent and stable, leaving natural agate underneath. Our black agate buying guide covers it properly.

Being straight about this is part of the quality argument, not a contradiction of it. A seller who will tell you about the dye will tell you about everything else too.

What is not recorded

Shape, exact measurements and clarity grade are not on the sheet for this piece — we leave those fields honest rather than filling them with plausible values. Ask us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it and photograph it against a scale.

Does premium mean certified?

No — separate claims. A certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged, but no certificate grades workmanship.

Durability and care

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage. One point specific to a faceted stone: facet edges are more exposed than a cabochon's smooth dome, so a bezel setting protects it better than claws. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach and no ultrasonic cleaner.

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. Compare it with the cabochons in the black agate collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural black agate with a weight of 16.15 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,300 — roughly Rs. 700 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-BL-0022 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 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.