Every stone on this site is sold loose, which means unset: the gem on its own, with no ring, no pendant and no mount. People sometimes assume that is the harder way to buy. It is usually the safer one, and this page explains why.

The stone

7.20 carats, which is 7.91 ratti. Rs. 5,000, about Rs. 694 per carat, reference GS-BL-0013. One piece only.

Why buy loose

• You see the whole stone. Nothing is hidden under a bezel. Chips at the girdle, a flat spot on the dome, an uneven back — all visible before you commit.
• The two prices stay separate. You know what the stone cost and what the metalwork cost. In finished jewellery those are one figure and the split is rarely in your favour.
• The design is yours. Your jeweller builds around the stone rather than you choosing from whatever stock mounts exist.
• It travels and returns easily. A loose stone is simple to inspect on delivery and simple to send back.
• Resetting later is normal. A stone outlives several settings, and starting loose makes that obvious from the beginning.

What to do when it arrives

Weigh it if you have a jeweller's scale — it should read 7.20 carats. Hold it under a light and check the polish for dullness or fine ripples. Look at the edges against a strong light to see how evenly the colour runs. Check the girdle for chips. Then take it to your jeweller with a clear idea of the piece you want; at this weight it suits a men's silver ring, a women's cocktail ring or a pendant.

Can you set it for me instead?

Yes. Message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 with the design and your finger size and we will quote the mount as a separate line from the stone. Our aqeeq ring price page shows how the metal and labour break down.

Is buying loose riskier?

Less so, in our experience, because you inspect the gem itself rather than a finished object that hides it. You pay the rider only after the parcel is open, you have seven days to return it unused, a certificate of authenticity comes on request, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged.

The dye

Black agate is almost always dyed — standard for the stone type, stated on our specification sheet. A sugar solution followed by acid carbonises inside the pores and blackens the stone from within; permanent, with natural agate underneath. Our black agate buying guide covers it.

Care

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach and no ultrasonic cleaner.

Delivery

Flat Rs. 500 by insured, tracked courier to every city, dispatched in one to two working days. Shape and measurements have not been recorded; we will measure it on request. More in the black agate collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural black agate with a weight of 7.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 5,000 — roughly Rs. 694 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-BL-0013 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.