A 31.70 carat cabochon — 34.84 ratti — at Rs. 7,130, about Rs. 225 per carat. The reference is GS-IR-0010.

The cut

This one is a cushion, not an oval: its outline measures a width-to-height ratio of 1.02, which is as near square as makes no difference, with softened corners and a domed top. That matters if you are buying for an existing setting, because a cushion will not drop into an oval bezel. Cut specifically for this shape, it carries more weight for its face-up size than an oval of the same spread would.

What the photograph actually shows

68% of its measurable colour falls in the red band and 7% in the golden band, with 67% of the surface reading as near-neutral. Brightness is 69 out of 255. In practice that is broad red jasper bands running across a steel-grey ground, with a thin gold-brown layer along one side. It is one of the few stones in this category where all three of tiger iron's ingredients are visible at once, even if the gold is a minor part.

What a cabochon is, and why this material gets one

A cabochon is a stone shaped and polished with a domed top and no facets. Tiger iron is always cut this way, because the thing worth showing is the pattern across the surface, and faceting would cut straight through the bands and destroy it. A dome also puts the strongest part of the stone outermost.

Wearing it

Thirty-two carats in a cushion is a substantial men's ring or a solid pendant. The square-ish outline sits well in a plain bezel and gives a more modern look than an oval of the same weight.

Durability and care

About 7 on the Mohs scale through the jasper, softer through the iron-rich bands. Warm water and a soft cloth; keep it out of ultrasonic cleaners.

No testing has been done on this stone, so its treatment is recorded as "not tested", and no origin is documented. Message +92 308 887 3888 with questions. The full 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 covers shapes and settings.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural iron tiger eye with a weight of 31.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 7,130 — roughly Rs. 225 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-IR-0010 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.