42.45 carats — 46.65 ratti — at Rs. 6,380, about Rs. 150 per carat. The reference is GS-IR-0017.

How to tell genuine tiger iron

The word "genuine" earns its place only if it means something, so here is what to look for, on this stone or anyone else's.

The bands should wander. Natural tiger iron was folded after it formed, so its layers bend, pinch out and change width across a stone. Pressed or reconstituted material shows stripes that are too straight, too even and too parallel. On this stone the bands run diagonally and visibly change thickness along their length.

The three layers should differ in more than colour. Real jasper, hematite and tiger's eye reflect light differently — the gold band has a silky fibrous sheen, the hematite is flatly metallic, the jasper is stony. A dyed or printed imitation gets the colours and misses this entirely.

It should be heavy. Iron content gives tiger iron real heft for its size. A piece that feels light for 42 carats is not what it claims to be.

What the measurements say

61% of its measurable colour falls in the red band and 9% in the golden band, with 28% of the surface reading as near-neutral. Brightness is 74 out of 255. In practice: bold red and bright amber bands crossing a dark ground at an angle, with one broad gold streak running most of the way across the face.

Wearing it

At over 42 carats this is a display stone or a heavy pendant rather than a ring for most hands. A plain, wide bezel and a strong chain.

Durability and care

Roughly 7 on the Mohs scale through the jasper, softer through the iron-rich bands. Warm water, soft cloth, no ultrasonic cleaner.

We should be straight about the limits of what we can promise: we have not had this stone laboratory tested, so its treatment is recorded as "not tested" rather than untreated, and we hold no documented origin for it. What we can tell you is what the stone itself shows. Message +92 308 887 3888 for more photographs. 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 — which is the real test — and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery. Our buying guide goes through the same checks in more detail.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural iron tiger eye with a weight of 42.45 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,380 — roughly Rs. 150 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-IR-0017 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.