41.25 carats — 45.33 ratti — at Rs. 6,230, about Rs. 151 per carat. The reference is GS-IR-0016. Of everything in this category, this is the piece we would keep.

The figure in the stone

Most tiger iron is striped. This one is not. The bands on its face curve into a closed concentric figure — a set of rings, roughly oval, nested one inside another, with an olive-green core at the centre and red jasper banding wrapped around it. That happens when the original layers were folded tightly and the cutter has sliced across the nose of the fold rather than along it. It is partly luck in the rough and partly a decision at the saw, and it is not something you can order.

What the measurements say

This stone returns the highest gold reading in the category: 15% of its measurable colour falls in the golden band, with 64% in the red band and only 21% of the surface reading as near-neutral grey. Brightness is 71 out of 255. So it is not merely an interesting pattern — it has the strongest showing of the golden tiger's-eye layer of anything here, which is the ingredient most often missing.

Why we have filed it as a collector's stone

Because the pattern, not the size or the colour, is the reason to own it, and a pattern like this is worth more sitting where it can be looked at than hidden in a setting. If you do set it, a pendant or a brooch shows the full face; a ring will hide the outer rings under the bezel, which would be a waste of the thing that makes it unusual.

Durability and care

About 7 on the Mohs scale through the silica-rich bands and softer through the iron-rich ones. Warm water and a soft cloth, no ultrasonic cleaner, and keep it from knocking against harder stones.

We have not had this stone tested, so its treatment is recorded as "not tested", and no origin is documented for it. We are happy to take more photographs for you — message +92 308 887 3888. 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 makes one piece of banded rock better than another.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural iron tiger eye with a weight of 41.25 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,230 — roughly Rs. 151 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-IR-0016 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.