A natural blue sapphire of 3.50 carats, about 3.85 ratti, at Rs. 52,500 – exactly Rs. 12,250 per carat. Our record gives its colour as deep blue.

Before you buy at this price, have it tested

We would rather lead with that than bury it. This stone has no laboratory report and its heating status has not been tested. At over fifty thousand rupees, those are not details.

A report from a competent gemmological laboratory would establish three things that no amount of looking can: that the material is natural corundum rather than synthetic, whether the colour has been improved by heat, and – for an additional fee – where the stone formed. For blue sapphire, heat treatment alone commonly accounts for a multiple in value, in either direction. We will arrange the testing; just ask before you commit.

Size

Three and a half carats is about three and five-sixths ratti, a substantial neelam that will be the whole point of whatever it is set in. It suits a gents' ring or a statement pendant. A stone this size has a lot of exposed girdle, so a setting that shields the edge is worth the extra work.

Corundum and hardness

Sapphire is corundum, Mohs 9, second only to diamond among stones in ordinary use. It resists the slow scratching that dulls softer gems over years, which is the practical reason neelam has been worn daily for centuries. Hardness is not toughness: a sharp blow on an edge can chip it whatever the Mohs number.

What has not been tested

As above: no laboratory report, and no heat test. Most blue sapphire on the world market is heated; that is ordinary trade practice and not a defect, but it is not something we will assert or deny without evidence. We also state no origin on this page, because none has been established by a laboratory.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners while the treatment is unknown. Store it apart from softer stones. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs or to arrange a test, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sapphire, known in Urdu as Neelam, with a weight of 3.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 12,250 — roughly Rs. 3,500 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000885 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

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.