Here is the honest starting point with strong green agate: the colour is very often dyed. Natural agate is generally paler and cloudier, and dealers across the region have brightened it for a long time. That is not a scandal, but a careful buyer should ask, and we would rather you did.

So here is what we can say about this 13 carat piece. It is a natural green agate, listed at Rs. 1,950, or about Rs. 150 per carat. Its hardness is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Whether this specific stone has been dyed is something to ask us on WhatsApp +92 308 887 3888, quoting GS-GR-0003. We will tell you what we know, and if you need a firm answer we can arrange independent lab testing.

At 13 carats it is a generous size, enough to carry a ring on its own. Dye or not, agate of this kind is a modest-priced stone, bought for its look and for the tradition of aqeeq in Pakistani jewellery rather than for rarity.

See other weights on the green agate category page, or read how to tell stones apart in our real versus fake guide.

Pay Cash on Delivery once you have opened the parcel and seen the stone yourself, anywhere in Pakistan, with 7 days to return it if you change your mind.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural green agate with a weight of 13 Carat. Its price is Rs. 1,950 — roughly Rs. 150 for each carat. Origin: Pakistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-GR-0003 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 green agate 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 green agate 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 green agate 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): Strong green agate is usually dyed. 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.