Eighteen carats of sapphire is not something you see on a hand every day. This natural blue neelam weighs 18.38 carats, and the first thing most people say on seeing a stone this size is how much of it there is for the money.

The price is Rs. 30,000, about Rs. 1,632 per carat, and the reference is GS-000797. Big sapphires tend to cost less per carat than small ones of similar quality, simply because large clean crystals are harder to come by, so judge by colour and clarity rather than by weight alone.

With a Mohs hardness of 9 it can carry a heavy statement ring, a broad pendant or a bespoke piece, and a custom silver ring setting can be talked through with us on WhatsApp. Mass like this does want a sturdy mount with good claws or a deep bezel.

As with all sapphire, heating is common in the trade, so ask what we know about this one before you commit. If it arrives and is not right, you can return it within seven days of delivery. Browse the rest of the sapphire collection to see how it compares.

Order with Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan: open the parcel, check the stone, then pay. If it is not right for you, you have 7 days to return it. 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 18.38 Carat. Its price is Rs. 30,000 — roughly Rs. 1,632 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000797 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.