A natural red agate of 13.75 carats, about 15.11 ratti, at Rs. 9,600 – roughly Rs. 698 per carat. An oval cabochon, and the brightest stone in our red agate tray.

How red agate is priced, plainly

Agate is not a rare material. It forms in volcanic cavities all over the world and reaches the market in quantity, so what you are paying for is the cutting, the polish, the size and the colour – not scarcity. That is why the rate per carat across all eighteen stones in this tray stays flat between about Rs. 692 and Rs. 706 rather than climbing with size the way it does for a rare gem. A larger agate costs more simply because there is more of it.

So the useful comparison when you shop is the rate per carat, not the total. Take any seller's price, divide by the carat weight, and you have a number you can hold against this page. If the arithmetic is not on the listing, ask for it.

Why this stone looks different from the others here

Measured across the photograph, only about 5% of this stone's face reads as dark. Every other red agate in this tray measures between 48% and 94%. In plain terms it is a bright, translucent orange-red where the rest are deep and closed – the colour the trade usually calls carnelian. It is not better or worse than the dark stones, and it costs the same per carat; it simply looks like a different stone, and some buyers want precisely this.

Hardness

Agate is chalcedony, Mohs 6.5 to 7, no cleavage. Tough against knocks, mildly vulnerable to the slow dulling that airborne dust causes over years of daily wear. A jeweller re-polishes a cabochon quickly and cheaply.

What is not established

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. This matters particularly for a bright stone: red agate is often heated or dyed, and gentle heating is the classic way pale chalcedony is brought to exactly this orange-red. We are not saying this stone was treated; we are saying we have not tested it and will not guess.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap, soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and bleach. 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 13.75 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,600 — roughly Rs. 698 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0011 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 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.