Silver and Dur-e-Najaf go together for reasons that are partly traditional and partly practical. The tradition is long-standing: Najafi stones have been set in silver rings for centuries. The practical part is that silver and milky white quartz are close enough in tone that neither overpowers the other, and silver is soft enough to be worked into a close bezel around a dome without stressing the stone.

The stone

20.05 carats, which is 22.03 ratti. Rs. 3,380, about Rs. 169 per carat, reference GS-000212. Recorded shape: oval. Recorded colour: colourless. One piece, as photographed.

Getting it set in silver

1. Ask for a bezel. A continuous rim of silver folded over the edge of the dome is the traditional mount and the most secure one for a cabochon.
2. Mind the heat. The stone should be set after the ring is soldered and finished, never left in the mount while a torch is near it. Any decent silversmith knows this; it is worth saying anyway.
3. Leave the back open if you want the glow. An open-backed bezel lets light in from behind, and a translucent stone benefits from that more than a transparent one does.
4. Weight the shank to the stone. A twenty-carat cabochon wants a shank with some substance or the ring will feel top-heavy.

What it looks like

Evenly milky white. We measured the photograph rather than describing it loosely: the red, green and blue readings are within a few points of each other, so the white has no cast to it. Brightness variation across the dome measures 9, against roughly 65 for a faceted see-through gem photographed under the same light. The stone is therefore translucent rather than transparent — light enters it and comes back as a soft glow, but you cannot look through it. That is the correct appearance for Najafi quartz.

Treatment and durability

Dur-e-Najaf is clear quartz and is usually untreated. No heating, no dye, no irradiation, no fracture filling. Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage planes, which is why these rings survive being worn every day for years. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and do not put it in an ultrasonic cleaner — silver settings and quartz both do better without one.

Caring for the silver as well as the stone

Silver tarnishes; quartz does not. The usual mistake is to use a strong silver dip with the stone still in the mount, which can leave residue under the bezel. A silver polishing cloth used around the stone, followed by warm soapy water, keeps both clean without that risk.

More on this stone

The wearing guide covers the customary practice, the Dur-e-Najaf page gives the background, and the buying guide is the practical companion. The rest of the range is on the collection page, and the other Islamic gemstones are worth a look if you are putting a set together.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan by insured, tracked courier, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. Dimensions have not been recorded; message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural dur-e-najaf with a weight of 20.05 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,380 — roughly Rs. 169 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000212 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 dur-e-najaf rates 7. It handles daily wear, but a hard knock can still nick an exposed corner, so a protective setting is a sensible choice. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep it away from abrasive cleaners and high heat.

Whoever you buy dur-e-najaf 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 dur-e-najaf 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): Dur-e-Najaf (clear quartz) is usually untreated. 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.