This is what most people mean when they say aqeeq: a red Yemeni carnelian, cut oval, the size of a man's ring stone. It is the combination that has been worn in the Muslim world for centuries and it is still the most requested stone in our shop.

The stone

16.50 carats, which is 18.13 ratti. Shape: oval. Body colour: red. Origin: Yemen. Rs. 11,600, about Rs. 703 per carat, reference GS-00029. Shape, colour and origin here are recorded for this individual stone rather than assumed from the category.

Red, oval, Yemeni — why that combination

• The colour. Carnelian red is the traditional choice, and a good one holds a warm, slightly translucent red rather than an opaque brick colour. Hold it to a light: natural carnelian glows a little at the edges.
• The oval. Standard for a ring because it sits along the finger without corners to catch, and because every silversmith in Pakistan already has the mount.
• The origin. Yemeni aqeeq is asked for by name for religious and cultural reasons, and it commands a premium over identical material from elsewhere. Our Yemeni versus Iranian guide explains how they are told apart.

The tradition behind it

Wearing an aqeeq ring in silver is a long-standing practice in the Muslim world, associated in hadith literature with the Prophet and his family, and the Yemeni stone in particular. It is customary to wear it on the right hand. We present this as tradition rather than as any claim about what the stone will do for you — our Islamic gemstones page sets out the background properly.

What should I check before buying a red aqeeq?

Dye, mostly. Red agate is often heated or dyed to deepen the colour, and our specification sheet says so rather than claiming this stone is untreated. Three checks you can do with the stone in your hand: look for colour pooling inside cracks, look for a sharp line where the colour stops near the base, and look at the stone against a bright light for an unnaturally flat, even red. A natural carnelian usually shows some variation. The full method is in our dyed and glass aqeeq guide.

What about glass imitations?

Glass shows round gas bubbles under a loupe and warms up in your hand faster than stone does. Agate stays cool for a moment when you pick it up. If you want certainty, a certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged; you can also have it checked yourself inside the seven-day return window, since you pay on delivery.

Setting it

A 16.50 carat oval suits a wide 925 silver band in the traditional style, bezel-set so the rim protects the edge. Exact measurements have not been recorded — ask on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it before your jeweller starts. Our aqeeq ring page explains what a finished ring costs.

Ordering and care

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale — durable for daily wear, including wudu; just dry the ring afterwards. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush, never an ultrasonic cleaner. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days, Cash on Delivery, seven days to return it unused.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aqeeq with a weight of 16.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,600 — roughly Rs. 703 for each carat. Origin: Yemen. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-00029 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 aqeeq rates 6.5 to 7. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy aqeeq 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 aqeeq 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): Agate (aqeeq) is often heated or dyed to deepen its colour. 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.