Dur-e-Najaf pricing confuses people because it runs backwards from what they expect. With most gemstones a bigger stone costs more per carat. With Najafi quartz it costs less — considerably less. This is the smallest stone we list and it carries the highest rate per carat in the collection, which makes it the clearest place to explain how the pricing actually works.

This stone's numbers

5.35 carats, which is 5.88 ratti. Rs. 2,630, about Rs. 492 per carat — the highest per-carat rate in our Dur-e-Najaf range. Reference GS-00046. Recorded shape: oval. Recorded colour: colourless.

Why small stones cost more per carat

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on earth, so there is no scarcity premium to pay on a large crystal. What you are really paying for is the work: sawing, grinding, doming and polishing take roughly the same time whether the stone ends up at five carats or fifty. Spread that labour over five carats and the rate per carat is high. Spread it over ninety and it is low. Across our collection the figure falls from Rs. 492 here to about Rs. 82 on our largest piece — a six-fold difference driven almost entirely by that arithmetic.

What Dur-e-Najaf should cost in Pakistan

• Small stones, under about 10 carats: roughly Rs. 300 to Rs. 600 per carat is normal.
• Mid-size, 15 to 40 carats: roughly Rs. 120 to Rs. 200 per carat.
• Large, 60 carats and above: roughly Rs. 80 to Rs. 170 per carat, depending on the quality of the white.
• Anything quoted in thousands of rupees per carat for white quartz is not being priced as quartz. Ask what the seller believes they are selling you.

What moves the price besides size

1. Evenness of the white. A uniform milky body is worth more than one with grey patches or dark veins.
2. Quality of the dome. A symmetrical, well-polished cabochon costs more to produce and is worth more.
3. Freedom from visible fractures. Internal feathers that flash in the light bring the price down.
4. Shape. Ovals are standard; a well-cut drop suitable for a pendant can carry a small premium for the shape alone.

Treatment, and why it does not affect the price here

Dur-e-Najaf is clear quartz and is usually untreated. With most coloured gems a large part of the price depends on whether the stone has been heated or filled. With Najafi quartz that question barely arises, which is one reason the pricing is as straightforward as it is.

What it looks like

Neutral milky white — measured from the photograph, the red, green and blue readings sit within a few points of each other. Brightness variation across the face measures 10, against about 65 for a faceted see-through gem photographed the same way, so the stone is translucent rather than transparent. Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale; warm soapy water and a soft brush, no ultrasonic cleaner.

Read further

Our Dur-e-Najaf price guide goes into more detail, the general price guide puts it alongside other stones, and the buying guide covers what to look at before you pay. The rest of the range, including the larger and cheaper-per-carat pieces, is on the collection page.

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 5.35 Carat. Its price is Rs. 2,630 — roughly Rs. 492 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-00046 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 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.