A natural red agate of 18.85 carats, about 20.71 ratti, at Rs. 13,200 – exactly Rs. 700 per carat.

A square stone, not an oval

This is the only square stone in our red agate tray, and the measurement is unambiguous: its width and height are identical, and it fills 92% of its bounding box, where an oval or a circle fills about 79%. A shape that is as wide as it is tall but fills far more than an ellipse would can only be a square. The top is a flat table with a very slight dome, not a cabochon.

It is worth being clear about this because "round" and "square" get used loosely. A circular stone would measure about 79% fill at the same proportions. This one does not.

What a flat square suits

Square stones set differently from ovals. They sit comfortably in a plain flat bezel and look deliberate in modern silver work, where an oval cabochon reads traditional. At nearly nineteen carats this is a statement piece rather than an everyday ring stone – a pendant, a cufflink pair, or a large signet-style ring if you want weight on the hand.

A very dark red

Measured across the face, about 94% of this stone reads as dark and 95% as saturated red. That combination means a deep, near-black red that only shows its colour against strong light. The flat table helps here: a broad level surface catches a clean reflection and gives the eye something to read where a dome of this darkness can look closed.

Hardness

Agate is chalcedony, Mohs 6.5 to 7, with no cleavage planes. Its corners are the vulnerable part of any flat cut, so a setting that protects them is money well spent.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report exists, and the treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed, and very dark red material of this kind is among the most commonly treated. We will not claim it is untreated without a test. No origin is recorded for this stone.

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 18.85 Carat. Its price is Rs. 13,200 — roughly Rs. 700 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0016 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.