If you want a neelam with real presence on the finger, 4.45 carats from Afghanistan is a size worth considering. It reads clearly across the hand, yet at Rs. 5,400 (about Rs. 1,213 per carat) it stays within reach of someone buying a first sapphire.

What suits it

A gents' ring or a bold pendant carries this weight comfortably. Sapphire rates 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond among familiar gems, so daily wear, a knock against a door handle or a crowded bus ride will not scratch it. The stone is blue, known in Urdu as neelam, and in Vedic astrology it is linked with Saturn, which is why many families ask an astrologer before wearing one.

Ask before you buy

Heat treatment is common in sapphire, and an honest seller says so rather than guessing. Send the reference GS-000883 to us on WhatsApp (+92 308 887 3888) and we will tell you what we know about this particular stone; independent lab testing can be arranged if you want a second opinion. More blue stones are on the sapphire page.

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 4.45 Carat. Its price is Rs. 5,400 — roughly Rs. 1,213 for each carat. Origin: Afghanistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000883 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.