A 13.25 carat Ceylon moonstone — 14.56 ratti — at Rs. 8,630, which is about Rs. 651 per carat.

Why a pendant is the right home for this stone

Moonstone sits at 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and has good cleavage, which means it parts along internal planes if struck the wrong way. A ring stone meets door frames, steering wheels, desks and kitchen counters every day; a pendant meets almost nothing. For a mineral this size and this softness, hanging it is simply the safer engineering, and it is why stones in the ten to fifteen carat range so often end up on a chain rather than a finger.

It also shows the stone better

There is an optical argument as well. Adularescence — the blue glow moonstone is bought for — is produced by light scattering between microscopically thin feldspar layers, and it only appears at certain angles. A pendant swings and turns as you move, so the sheen is constantly being switched on and off. A ring stone spends much of its day flat to the ceiling, which is often the one angle at which the glow does not show.

Setting advice

Ask for a bezel rather than claws: it wraps the girdle, which is the vulnerable edge, and it stops the dome catching on fabric. A simple bail in silver keeps the weight down and the cool metal suits the pale body. If the pendant is for daily wear, a shorter chain keeps the stone above the sternum where it is less likely to be knocked against a table edge.

Rate, origin, care

At Rs. 651 per carat this sits close to the middle of our collection, which runs from roughly Rs. 481 to Rs. 776 per carat. Recorded as a Ceylon stone. Clean it with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth — never an ultrasonic cleaner, steam, bleach or ammonia — and store it away from harder stones.

Treatment has not been tested on this piece, and we record that rather than calling it untreated. Dimensions and clarity are not recorded yet; ask us and we will measure it for you.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural moonstone with a weight of 13.25 Carat. Its price is Rs. 8,630 — roughly Rs. 651 for each carat. Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000409 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 moonstone rates 6 to 6.5. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy moonstone 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 moonstone 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): Moonstone 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.