A natural red agate of 10.20 carats, about 11.21 ratti, at Rs. 7,100 – roughly Rs. 696 per carat. An oval cabochon with a high, glossy dome.

The size question for a man's ring

Ten carats of agate is a genuinely substantial ring stone, and in ratti – which is how most buyers here think about it – this is a little over eleven. That is around the size most men ask for when they want the stone to be the point of the ring rather than a detail on it. It will sit across a good part of the finger.

Two practical notes. A high dome like this one stands further off the hand than a flatter stone of the same weight, so it catches more; if you work with your hands, a lower-profile stone or a protective bezel is the better choice. And weight is not width – a dome carries a lot of its carats in height, so a 10-carat cabochon can look smaller face-up than a 10-carat flat stone.

Reading the photograph

About 92% of this stone's face reads as saturated red, and it is mid-toned: roughly 75% of the surface reads as dark, which places it between the near-black small stones in this tray and the bright oranges at the top end. The bright streak across the dome is a reflection of the studio light, not a flaw or an inclusion.

Hardness and wear

Agate is chalcedony at Mohs 6.5 to 7. No cleavage planes means it resists chipping well, which is the single most useful property for a ring worn every day. What it does not resist is slow abrasion: household dust is about as hard as the stone, so the mirror polish softens over years. Re-polishing is routine and cheap.

What is not established

No laboratory report exists, and the treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed. We do not claim this stone is untreated, and no origin is recorded for it, so none is stated here.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steamer, no bleach. Take the ring off for heavy work. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red agate with a weight of 10.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 7,100 — roughly Rs. 696 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0008 when you message us about it. The picture is a representative photograph of this type of stone, not of this individual piece, so the stone you receive will differ in its markings and outline. Its weight and price above are this stone's own, and we will send photographs of the actual piece on WhatsApp before you buy.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

On the Mohs scale red agate rates 6.5 to 7. 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 red agate 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 red agate 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): Red agate is often heated or dyed to deepen its colour. 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.