Round black agate is less common than oval, and faceted round black agate is less common still. Most of this material is cut as an oval cabochon because that shape wastes the least rough and suits a traditional ring. A round takes more work, loses more material and makes a different kind of piece.

The stone

5.05 carats, which is 5.55 ratti. Round, faceted. Rs. 3,500, about Rs. 693 per carat, reference GS-BL-0006. One piece only.

What a round shape gives you

• Symmetry you can check in seconds. Rotate it slowly. The outline should not wobble and the facet rows should line up in clean rings. A lopsided round is obvious in a way a lopsided freeform is not — which makes it the easiest shape to judge for workmanship.
• No weak points. No corners to chip, so a simple bezel or four claws are both fine.
• Standard mounts everywhere. Round settings are stock at every jeweller in Pakistan, so setting costs stay low and a future reset is easy.
• A modern look. A round faceted black stone reads cleaner and more contemporary than the traditional oval cabochon — closer to a signet or a dress ring than to a classic aqeeq ring.

Faceting an opaque stone

It is worth understanding what facets do here, because it is not what they do on a sapphire. In a transparent gem facets bounce light around inside the stone and return it to your eye. In an opaque one no light gets inside, so each facet simply acts as a small mirror on the surface. The effect is a scatter of sharp highlights as the hand moves, instead of the single soft highlight a cabochon gives. On black, that reads as crisp and deliberate.

It also means facet junctions matter. On a cabochon a careless finish shows as dullness; on a faceted stone it shows as rounded, smeared edges where facets meet. Look for crisp meeting points.

Size and setting

At 5.05 carats this is a modest ring stone — a women's dress ring, a slim men's ring, or a pendant. A bezel protects the girdle best; claws suit it too, since there are no corners at risk. The diameter has not been recorded for this piece; ask on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it before your jeweller orders a mount.

The dye

Black agate is almost always dyed — standard for this stone type and on our specification sheet. A sugar solution followed by acid carbonises inside the pores and blackens it from within; the colour goes into the stone rather than onto it, so faceting and polishing do not thin it. Our black agate buying guide explains the process.

Care

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage. Facet edges are a little more exposed than a cabochon's dome, so avoid knocking it against hard surfaces. 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 shapes in the black agate collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural black agate with a weight of 5.05 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,500 — roughly Rs. 693 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-BL-0006 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

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.