A natural red agate of 15.65 carats, about 17.20 ratti, at Rs. 11,000 – roughly Rs. 703 per carat. An oval cabochon with a high, even dome.

What "premium" means on this page

The word gets used so loosely in the gem trade that it is worth saying precisely what is behind it here, because it is not a grade and nobody has certified it. On this stone it means two measured things and nothing more.

First, evenness of colour: about 94% of this stone's face reads as saturated red, one of the highest proportions in this tray, with almost no orange or pale zoning – under 0.2% of the surface reads orange, against 24% on the banded stone elsewhere in this category. Second, size at a flat rate: at over fifteen carats it is among the larger stones here, and the rate per carat has not been raised for it.

What it does not mean: there is no clarity grade, no colour grade and no laboratory opinion of any kind behind this listing, because no laboratory has seen the stone.

A high dome

This cabochon carries more of its weight in height than a flatter stone would, which gives a deeper, richer colour when light passes through the dome, and makes the stone sit higher in a setting. For a ring that means a bolder look and a little more exposure to knocks; for a pendant it simply reads as a fuller stone.

Hardness

Agate is chalcedony, Mohs 6.5 to 7, with no cleavage. Tough against impact, slightly vulnerable to the gradual dulling that airborne dust causes over years. Re-polishing is quick and inexpensive.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed, and even, saturated colour of this kind is exactly what dyeing produces as well as what good natural material looks like. We are not claiming this stone is untreated. No origin is recorded for it.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap, a 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 15.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,000 — roughly Rs. 703 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0014 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.