13.95 carats — 15.33 ratti — at Rs. 5,250, about Rs. 376 per carat. The reference is GSN-LL-18.

What the photograph actually shows

Brightness reads 76 out of 255, among the lightest in this part of the collection, with saturation at 80% — so a bright, clear blue that holds its colour rather than a dark one that needs daylight to come alive. Pale calcite accounts for only 4.5% of the surface, so the colour runs clean.

A lighter, strongly coloured blue is the most versatile lapis to own. It reads well against skin in daylight, keeps its colour under a lamp, and works with yellow gold as happily as with silver, which the deep navy stones in this collection do not.

The shape

This is the most upright stone in the collection, measuring 0.70 across its outline — noticeably taller than it is wide. That proportion suits a pendant particularly well, where a stone hangs vertically and a tall oval looks deliberate rather than accidental. In a ring it sits along the finger rather than across it.

Wearing it

Fourteen carats is a comfortable everyday size. Use a bezel: lapis at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale needs its setting to do the protecting, and a bezel also flatters an upright stone by framing it cleanly.

Care

Warm water and a soft cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, and keep it away from perfume and hairspray — both are applied exactly where a pendant sits.

We have not had this stone tested, so its treatment is recorded as "not tested" rather than untreated, and we hold no documented origin for it. Message +92 308 887 3888 to arrange an identification. The rest of the range is in the lapis lazuli category.

Cash on Delivery is available across Pakistan, so you inspect the stone before paying, and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural lapis lazuli, known in Urdu as Lajward, with a weight of 13.95 Carat. Its price is Rs. 5,250 — roughly Rs. 376 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GSN-LL-18 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 lapis lazuli rates 5 to 6. That makes it soft for a gemstone, better suited to pendants, earrings and rings for special occasions than to a daily ring. Keep it away from perfume, cleaning products, steam and ultrasonic cleaners, and polish it with a dry, soft cloth after wear.

Whoever you buy lapis lazuli 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 lapis lazuli 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): Lapis lazuli (lajward) is sometimes dyed or waxed to even out its blue. 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.