If you came to this category wanting red, this is the stone. 21.60 carats — 23.74 ratti — at Rs. 4,880, about Rs. 226 per carat. The reference is GS-IR-0008.

The reddest stone in the category

We measured every photograph in this category the same way, and this one returns the highest red reading of all of them: 88% of its measurable colour falls in the red band. Nothing else here comes close to being as purely red — the next stone down is at 86%, and most of the category sits between 40% and 80%. Brightness reads 77 out of 255, so it is a deep red rather than a bright one: closer to the colour of dried blood or old mahogany than to a ruby.

61% of the surface still measures as near-neutral, which is the hematite showing through at the edges and across the base of the dome. The effect is a strongly red face framed in dark steel.

What tiger iron is

The red in tiger iron is jasper — silica stained by iron oxide — laid down in bands between layers of metallic hematite and, in some pieces, golden tiger's eye. Stones vary enormously in how much of each they carry. This one is jasper-dominant, which is exactly why it reads so red.

There is almost no golden layer on this piece, so do not expect the silky moving shimmer that the gold bands produce. What it offers instead is colour.

Wearing it

At 21.60 carats this is a generous ring stone or a good pendant. Red reads well against both yellow and white metal, so you have more freedom here than with the darker stones in this category. A bezel still beats claws on banded material.

Durability and care

The jasper bands are about 7 on the Mohs scale; the iron-rich bands are softer, so the finish dulls unevenly over years of wear. Warm water and a soft cloth, no ultrasonic cleaner.

We have not had this stone tested, so its treatment is recorded as "not tested" rather than untreated, and no origin is documented for it. Message +92 308 887 3888 for anything further. The rest of the range is in the iron tiger eye category.

Cash on Delivery is available across Pakistan, so you inspect the stone before paying, and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery. Our buying guide explains what separates the three layers.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural iron tiger eye with a weight of 21.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,880 — roughly Rs. 226 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-IR-0008 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 iron tiger eye 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 iron tiger eye 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 iron tiger eye 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): Iron tiger eye 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.