Twelve and a half carats is large for a sapphire. At 12.4 carats, this Nigerian stone sits well beyond the 2 to 5 carat range most buyers choose, and it changes how you wear it: it is a statement piece, best in a pendant or a bold ring that you choose consciously, rather than something that disappears on the hand.

Colour note

Our listing title calls it a green sapphire, and the stone is sold under the neelam name used for sapphire in general. Ask us on WhatsApp for daylight photographs so you see the real colour before you buy; do not assume it is the classic cornflower blue.

Price and what to ask

It costs Rs. 60,750, which is about Rs. 4,899 per carat, under reference GS-000741. Large sapphires are less common than small ones, and the per-carat rate here is lower than some of our small Ceylon pieces, so compare the colour and clarity carefully, not the rate alone.

Heating is the usual practice with sapphire, while a stone that has not been heated commands a premium; ask us what we know about this one. Ask us what we know about this stone, and request a lab test if you want one. At Mohs 9 it will resist scratches well. See more sapphires here.

Cash on Delivery is available across Pakistan, so you inspect the stone before paying, and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery. Before you choose, read our sapphire guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sapphire, known in Urdu as Neelam, with a weight of 12.4 Carat. Its price is Rs. 60,750 — roughly Rs. 4,899 for each carat. Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000741 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 sapphire rates 9. Few materials will scratch it, so it copes well with everyday ring wear. A soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush keeps it bright; skip the ultrasonic cleaner if inclusions reach the surface.

Whoever you buy sapphire 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 sapphire 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): Most sapphire on the market is heated to improve colour and clarity; unheated stones exist and cost more. 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.