A 12.3 carat pearl — 13.52 ratti — at Rs. 3,000, about Rs. 244 per carat.

Why a pendant is the right home for a pearl

This is not a matter of taste. Pearl is 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, the softest gem in ordinary jewellery — softer than a copper coin. The quartz dust in ordinary household air sits at 7 and will scratch it. A ring stone meets desks, door handles, steering wheels and taps all day; a pendant meets almost nothing.

There is a chemical argument too. Nacre is partly organic and dissolves in acid, and the hand is in contact with soap, cleaning products, fruit juice and sweat far more than the sternum is. Pearl rings need their nacre restored or the pearl replaced within a few years of daily wear. Pearl pendants survive generations — which is why antique pearl pendants are common and antique pearl rings in good condition are not.

Sizing a pendant pearl

Twelve carats is a confident pendant size: large enough to be the piece rather than an accent, not so large it looks costume. Because a pearl is a sphere its weight climbs with the cube of its diameter, so twelve carats is visibly bigger than eight, not marginally.

Ask for a half-drilled cup-and-peg mount rather than a full-drilled bead on a wire. The cup supports the pearl over a wider area and keeps the drill hole hidden.

What the photograph measures

Brightness 208 out of 255 at 3% saturation: a neutral white body with no cream or pink cast, and the compact highlight that indicates good nacre.

Care

Last on, first off — after perfume and hairspray, before everything else. Wipe with a soft damp cloth after wearing. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no jewellery dip; each of them strips nacre, and nacre cannot be put back.

Treatment has not been tested on this pearl, so we say so rather than calling it untreated. No documented origin is held for it. Dimensions are not recorded yet — ask and we will measure.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural pearl, known in Urdu as Moti, with a weight of 12.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,000 — roughly Rs. 244 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000336 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 pearl rates 2.5 to 4.5. 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 pearl 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 pearl 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): Pearls (moti) are commonly bleached and polished; dyed colours are disclosed. 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.