Forty carats is the size at which a Najafi stone starts to look like the rings you see on older hands — broad enough to fill a silver bezel, heavy enough to feel like something, but not so large that it catches on a sleeve. If you are buying your first Dur-e-Najaf and are not sure what size to go for, this is close to the middle of the road.

The stone

40.75 carats, which is 44.78 ratti. Rs. 6,380, about Rs. 157 per carat, reference GS-00061. Recorded shape: oval. Recorded colour: colourless. One piece, as photographed.

What "natural" means here, and what it does not

Natural means the stone came out of the ground as quartz and has been cut and polished, nothing more. It does not mean flawless, and it does not mean see-through. Dur-e-Najaf is clear quartz and is usually untreated — no heating, no dyeing, no irradiation, no fracture filling. With most coloured gemstones that question has an uncomfortable answer; with Najafi quartz it genuinely does not, which is one of the reasons it has been worn so widely for so long.

What it looks like

We measure our photographs rather than describe them from impression. The body colour here is neutral — red, green and blue readings within a few points of each other, so there is no beige or grey cast and "white" is a fair word for it. The brightness variation across the stone's face measures 12, where a faceted see-through gem photographed under the same light measures about 65. That tells you it is translucent rather than transparent: light enters the dome and glows back out, but you cannot look through it. That soft, slightly milky quality is the traditional character of the stone, not a defect in this particular one.

How to judge one in the hand

1. Hold it to a window. You should see a soft even glow through the body, not a dead opaque white and not a clear window.
2. Turn it under a lamp. The highlight on the dome should travel smoothly. A highlight that jumps or breaks means a poorly shaped cabochon.
3. Touch it to your lip. Quartz stays cold for several seconds. Glass warms up almost at once.
4. Look for bubbles with a loupe. Round bubbles mean glass. Quartz carries angular feathers and veils instead.

Durability and care

Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale, with no cleavage planes to split along. That is sound for a ring worn every day. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Keep it out of ultrasonic cleaners and do not leave it somewhere that gets very hot.

More on this stone

The Dur-e-Najaf page covers the tradition, the wearing guide covers the customary practice around it, and the buying guide is the practical companion to this listing. The rest of what we have is on the collection page, and the wider family of Islamic gemstones sits alongside it.

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 40.75 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,380 — roughly Rs. 157 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-00061 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.