Bloodstone has been a man's ring stone for a very long time, and it earns the place on practical grounds as much as traditional ones. It is opaque, so it hides the small surface marks a daily ring collects. It is hard enough to survive real use. And the dark body with red markings sits naturally with oxidised silver in a way a bright transparent gem does not.

The stone

19.20 carats, which is 21.10 ratti. Rs. 4,130, about Rs. 215 per carat, reference GS-000291. One piece only.

What it looks like

A drop-shaped cabochon with a dark, near-black body, strong red markings and fine white veining running through the darker areas. The polish is high and even. Photographed as it is, with no colour correction — so the red you see is the red that arrives.

Making the ring

1. 925 sterling silver. The traditional choice and the right one. Anything lower in silver content tarnishes badly and wears thin at the shank.
2. A full bezel. A continuous rim of metal around the stone. It protects the girdle where chips start and keeps the profile low — far better than claws on a cabochon.
3. A 7 to 10 mm shank. Balanced for a stone of this weight. A narrow band makes it look top-heavy and will bend over time.
4. Keep it low. A ring worn through work, driving and prayer should not stand high off the finger.
5. Finish to taste. Oxidised silver deepens the dark body; polished silver makes the red markings read sharper by contrast.

Living with it

Water does not harm bloodstone, so wudu and washing are fine — dry the ring afterwards so water does not sit under the stone and dull the silver. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. No bleach, no drain cleaner, no ultrasonic bath. Take it off for heavy lifting and anything with a hammer in it. At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, with no cleavage planes, it is one of the more forgiving stones you can put on a hand worn ring.

Which hand?

Bloodstone carries a long association with steadiness and courage, and in the subcontinent it is usually worn in silver. We pass those on as traditions rather than as claims about what a stone will do. The practical considerations above matter more to how long the ring lasts.

Treatment

Bloodstone is usually untreated. We have not had this stone tested, so our specification says "treatment not tested" rather than claiming it is untreated. A certificate of authenticity comes on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged.

Measurements

Exact dimensions 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 from it.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. More in the bloodstone collection, and cleaning in our care guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural bloodstone with a weight of 19.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,130 — roughly Rs. 215 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000291 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 bloodstone 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 bloodstone 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 bloodstone 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): Bloodstone is usually untreated. 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.