38.70 carats — 42.53 ratti — at Rs. 4,130, about Rs. 107 per carat. The reference is GS-000313.

The banding on this stone

A broad pale grey wedge enters from the top-right corner and runs down towards the centre. Fine green ripples crowd the top-left edge. The middle of the stone is a large, quiet mass of dark green, and then the lower half opens out into a series of bright green bands sweeping across in long parallel curves, each one a little wider than the last.

The effect is a stone with two halves: a calm, dark upper body and a strongly banded lower one. If you set it, the orientation will matter more than usual.

Why this size suits a pendant

Nearly 39 carats is a great deal of stone for a ring, and malachite is too soft to put somewhere it will be knocked. At 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than a steel key and will mark against almost anything harder than itself. Hung at the neck, the same stone is safe and its full face is visible.

It will want a bezel with a decent lip, and a chain that can carry the weight.

What malachite is

A copper carbonate, formed in layers above copper ore bodies. The bands are growth layers and the pattern is a cross-section through them, which is why each cut stone is unique and why no two in this collection look alike.

Care

Treat it gently. No ultrasonic cleaner, no heat, no acids — vinegar and lemon juice will etch it, and prolonged contact with sweat will dull it. A dry soft cloth is the safest cleaning there is. Store it away from harder stones.

We have not had this stone tested, so its treatment is recorded as "not tested" rather than untreated. Message +92 308 887 3888 for anything further. The rest of the range is in the malachite 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 malachite with a weight of 38.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,130 — roughly Rs. 107 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000313 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.