A natural red agate of 11 carats, about 12.09 ratti, at Rs. 7,700 – exactly Rs. 700 per carat. This one is not a plain gemstone: it is an engraved oval seal stone, carved with Arabic calligraphy set inside a decorative dotted border.

What makes this one different

Every other red agate in this tray is a smooth polished dome. This one has been hand-engraved across its whole face. The measurement makes the difference plain rather than decorative: the share of its surface carrying sharp detail is 49%, the highest of all eighteen stones, where every other one measures between 6% and 35%. Its fine line work measures 4.2%, and no other stone here exceeds 2.6%. That is carving, not polish.

Engraved aqeeq has a long history in this region. Agate takes a crisp line and holds it, which is why it was the standard material for seal rings for centuries across Persia, Central Asia and the subcontinent, long before it became a jewellery stone. A stone like this is bought for the work on it as much as for the material underneath.

About the inscription

The engraving is Arabic script within a bordered oval field. We are not transcribing or translating it on this page, because a religious inscription deserves to be read correctly rather than approximated from a photograph. If you want to know exactly what it says before buying, ask us on WhatsApp and we will send high-resolution photographs of the face so you can read it yourself or have someone read it for you.

Hardness, and why engraving survives on agate

Agate is chalcedony at Mohs 6.5 to 7 with no cleavage planes. That combination is exactly why it was chosen for seals: hard enough to hold a fine line against wear, tough enough not to split along a crystal plane while it is being cut. The engraved surface is more delicate than a plain dome, though, because the raised edges between the grooves take the wear.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed. No origin is recorded for this stone, and we are not dating the engraving – neither its age nor its maker is something a photograph can establish, so this page claims nothing about either.

Care and ordering

An engraved stone needs more care than a plain one. Clean it with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush worked gently along the grooves, never a stiff one. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no bleach. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for detailed photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red agate with a weight of 11 Carat. Its price is Rs. 7,700 — roughly Rs. 700 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0010 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.

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.