A 5.45 carat brown moonstone from Africa — 5.99 ratti — at Rs. 3,750, about Rs. 688 per carat. At a hair under six ratti it lands almost exactly on the size most often asked for over the counter here.

Six ratti, and why people ask for it

Buyers in Pakistan usually specify a stone in ratti rather than carat, and certain figures come up again and again — five, six and seven ratti above all. The reasons are partly traditional and partly practical: those sizes suit the ring proportions people actually wear. One ratti is about 0.91 carat, so six ratti is roughly 5.46 carat. This stone is 5.45 carat, which is six ratti to within a hundredth. If someone has told you to find a six ratti moonstone, this is it, and you can check the arithmetic yourself rather than taking our word for it.

What you get at this weight

Five and a half carat is a sensible middle. The dome has enough area for the shimmer to move across rather than merely flicker, and it still sits low enough for a ring worn daily. It is the weight we would suggest to someone who wants one moonstone that does everything, rather than a small accent stone or a large showpiece.

Translucency and the brown body

Recorded as translucent, with an earthy brown body. Translucency is the quality worth checking in any moonstone, and it matters more once there is colour involved: light should enter the body and the glow should appear to sit inside the stone rather than on its surface. A brown moonstone that passes light has depth; one that merely stops it looks like a pebble. Hold it up to a lamp rather than looking at it against a table.

Origin, rate and care

Recorded as an African stone. At Rs. 688 per carat it sits just above the middle of our range of roughly Rs. 481 to Rs. 776 per carat. Moonstone is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale with good cleavage: warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth only, no ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no bleach, and storage away from harder stones.

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

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.