Start with the trade fact: malachite is often finished with wax or resin, because the stone is soft and takes a finish poorly without help. A careful buyer should ask whether a stone has been treated this way, and we are happy to answer for this one on WhatsApp. Independent lab testing is available on request.

What we can tell you plainly is this. The stone weighs 26.6 carats and comes from Afghanistan. Its colour is a rich green with banding, and it is opaque. It is priced at Rs. 3,750, which is about Rs. 141 per carat.

Handling it well

With a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4, malachite will mark if it rubs against harder gems such as quartz or sapphire, so store it in its own pouch. Avoid acids, hot water and ultrasonic cleaners. A soft dry cloth is all it needs.

The reference to quote is GS-000324. Open the parcel at the door before paying if you choose Cash on Delivery, and compare it with the photographs. You can browse similar pieces in our malachite collection.

Pay Cash on Delivery once you have opened the parcel and seen the stone yourself, anywhere in Pakistan, with 7 days to return it if you change your mind. Before you choose, read our malachite guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural malachite with a weight of 26.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,750 — roughly Rs. 141 for each carat. Origin: Afghanistan. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000324 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 malachite rates 3.5 to 4. 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 malachite 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 malachite 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): Malachite is commonly waxed or resin-polished to protect its soft surface. 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.