The English name moonstone goes back a long way. It has often been said that the Romans believed the sheen was moonlight caught inside the stone, a belief that tells you what people have long seen in it: a light that moves. We mention it as tradition, because it is what gives the whole family its name.

This particular stone is a brown moonstone from Africa, 5.45 carats, with an earthy body and a translucent shimmer. It will suit buyers who find white and blue moonstones too pale, and who prefer warmer, more neutral tones in silver or gold.

The hard facts: Mohs hardness is 6 to 6.5, so choose a protected setting if it goes into a ring, and a pendant if you want fewer worries. The price is Rs. 3,750, about Rs. 688 per carat. Enhancement is unusual in moonstone. Message us on WhatsApp about this exact stone; an independent lab test can be arranged. Please quote GS-000423.

See the full moonstone collection for white, pink, grey and orange stones as well.

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 moonstone guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural moonstone with a weight of 5.45 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,750 — roughly Rs. 688 for each carat. Origin: Africa. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000423 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

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.