Worth a quick look at this 14.65 carat natural neelam before the parcel moves? Here is the checklist we would use ourselves.

• Weight 14.65 carats, a large sapphire by any standard.
• Listed at Rs. 24,000, which is about Rs. 1,638 per carat.
• Mohs hardness 9, so no worry about dust or daily abrasion.
• Colour is blue; compare it with our photographs in daylight rather than under a shop bulb.
• Look for chips at the edges and any cracks reaching the surface.
• Reference GS-000798, handy when you message us.
• Ask for a few extra photographs from different angles, so you can see how the blue behaves away from one light source.

Treatment is the other thing to settle. Heating is routine in the sapphire world, and we would rather you ask than assume, so write to us on WhatsApp and we will share what we know. Cash on Delivery lets you open the parcel and inspect before paying, and if the stone is not what you expected you have seven days from delivery to send it back, provided it is unused and in its original packaging. When you are ready to compare sizes, the sapphire category lists everything currently on the shelf.

Pay Cash on Delivery once you have opened the parcel and seen the stone yourself, anywhere in Pakistan, with 7 days to return it if you change your mind. 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 14.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 24,000 — roughly Rs. 1,638 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000798 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.