Careful buyers of sapphire ask about heating first, and they are right to. In the trade, most blue sapphire has been heated to improve colour or clarity. Stones left in their natural state do exist but sell for considerably more, so the question affects price as well as honesty.

For this 4.65 carat neelam, ask us directly. Send reference GS-000845 on WhatsApp and we will pass on whatever we know about the stone; independent testing can confirm it, and a certificate is available on request.

What is already clear from the listing: a natural blue sapphire, 4.65 carats, priced at Rs. 6,980, about Rs. 1,501 per carat. That rate is low for sapphire of this weight, which is a good reason to inspect colour and transparency carefully when the parcel arrives. Cash on Delivery lets you open it before paying.

Its Mohs hardness of 9 suits ring wear. If it is not right for you, a return is possible within seven days of delivery. Compare it with others in our sapphire listings.

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 4.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,980 — roughly Rs. 1,501 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000845 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.