People ask for a certified black agate because they want to be sure it is not glass or plastic. That is the right instinct, and a certificate answers it. What a certificate will not tell you is that the colour is natural — and with black agate that distinction matters more than anywhere else in the agate family.

The stone

28.55 carats, which is 31.37 ratti. Faceted. Rs. 20,000, about Rs. 701 per carat, reference GS-BL-0028. One piece only.

What certification covers

• The material. That it is natural chalcedony agate — not glass, not plastic, not a reconstituted composite. This is the line most buyers actually want.
• Natural, not synthetic. Agate is rarely synthesised commercially, but glass and composite imitations are everywhere in local markets.
• Weight and measurements. Independently taken, useful if you are insuring a finished ring.
• Treatment, where the laboratory tests for it. Ask for this specifically — see below.

The point that matters most

Black agate is almost always dyed. It is standard for this stone type, it is what our specification sheet says on every black agate we list, and no certificate changes it. The process has been used for close to two centuries: natural grey agate is soaked in a sugar solution and then in sulphuric acid, which carbonises inside the stone and turns it black from within. The result is permanent, stable and entirely conventional.

So "certified black agate" means the agate is natural agate. It does not mean the colour arrived that way. Anyone selling you black agate as naturally black, without qualification, is either misinformed or hoping you are. Our black agate buying guide covers this properly, and spotting dyed and glass aqeeq covers the rest of the family.

How do I get the certificate?

A certificate of authenticity is issued on request — ask us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888. For a third-party opinion we can send the stone to an independent laboratory before dispatch, or you can take it to one yourself after delivery: you pay the rider only after the parcel is open, and the seven-day return window runs from delivery. More on our authenticity page.

Is dyed black agate worth buying?

Yes, on its own terms. It is a natural stone with a stable, traditional colour treatment, it is hard-wearing at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and it is the classic stone for a silver ring. What it is not is a rare natural black gem, and the price reflects that: about Rs. 700 a carat, the same as every other agate here.

A faceted stone at this size

Most black agate is a plain cabochon; this one is faceted, which is more work and reads sharper against silver. Facet edges are a little more exposed than a dome, so a bezel protects it better than claws. Shape and measurements have not been recorded; we will measure it on request.

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. More in the black agate collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural black agate with a weight of 28.55 Carat. Its price is Rs. 20,000 — roughly Rs. 701 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-BL-0028 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.