Ask a gem dealer in Lahore about aqeeq and one of the first things he will mention is colour enhancement. The gem is often heated or dyed to deepen its tone, and it is an accepted practice in the trade rather than a scandal. What matters is that the buyer knows.

So before you commit to this 16.5 carat Yemeni carnelian, do ask. Send us the reference GS-00029 on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone. If you would like something in writing, independent lab testing can be arranged on request.

What we can state plainly: it is a natural aqeeq from Yemen, weighing 16.5 carats, with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7. The price is Rs. 3,150, roughly Rs. 191 per carat. When the courier arrives you may open the parcel and examine the stone before paying, and the seven-day return window is there if it does not suit you. Similar stones are gathered on the aqeeq category page, and our authenticity page explains how certificates work.

Cash on Delivery is available across Pakistan, so you inspect the stone before paying, and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery. Before you choose, read our aqeeq guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural aqeeq with a weight of 16.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,150 — roughly Rs. 191 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.