A cabochon is a stone cut with a smooth domed top and a flat base, with no facets at all. It is the oldest way of shaping a gem — older than faceting by thousands of years — and for a patterned opaque stone like bloodstone it is the only sensible answer.

The stone

19.65 carats, which is 21.59 ratti. Cabochon cut, drop outline. Origin: Madagascar. Rs. 3,750, about Rs. 191 per carat, reference GS-000289.

What it looks like

A dark, near-black body with strong red markings and fine white veining running through. The dome is even and the polish high, so under a light the dark areas read almost glassy. Photographed as it is, with no colour correction.

Why patterned stones are cut as cabochons

Faceting exists to bounce light around inside a transparent stone and send it back to your eye. That is why a sapphire sparkles. In an opaque stone no light gets inside, so facets would have nothing to work with — they would simply chop the surface into dull little planes and break up the pattern you bought the stone for. A dome does the useful thing instead: one continuous polished surface that shows the markings whole and catches a clean highlight.

What to look for in a cabochon

• An even dome. Run your eye along the profile. It should curve smoothly from edge to centre, with no flat spot on top — a flat top usually means the cutter was saving weight.
• Enough height. A very shallow cabochon looks lifeless and is fragile at the edges.
• A symmetrical outline. Fold it in half in your mind both ways; both halves should mirror.
• A clean girdle. Even edge thickness all the way round, with no chips or thin spots.
• A flat, even base. It has to sit properly in the bezel without rocking.
• Pattern placement. On a patterned stone this is the real test — markings that fall across the centre of the dome look deliberate; markings running off one edge look like an offcut.

Setting a cabochon

A low full bezel suits it perfectly: the rim follows the curve, protects the girdle and keeps the profile comfortable. Claws add nothing to an opaque stone and catch on cloth. Measurements have 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.

Origin

Recorded as Madagascar. Origin is the hardest claim to verify in any gemstone and no routine report names a country for this material, so treat that as what our records state rather than a laboratory finding.

Treatment and care

Bloodstone is usually untreated; we have not tested this stone, so the specification says so. At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, with no cleavage, it wears well. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach and no ultrasonic cleaner. Full routine in our bloodstone care guide.

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 bloodstone collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural bloodstone with a weight of 19.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,750 — roughly Rs. 191 for each carat. Origin: Madagascar. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000289 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.