A natural red aqeeq of 19.05 carats, about 20.93 ratti, at Rs. 13,300 – roughly Rs. 698 per carat. An oval cabochon, sold loose.

A warmer red than most of this tray

Measured from the photograph, about 12% of this stone's face reads as orange rather than red – the second-highest proportion among the eighteen, where most sit under 3% – and its average brightness places it in the brighter half of this category. The result is a warm, glowing red with an orange cast, closer to what the trade calls carnelian than to the near-black agates at the small end of this category. Under a warm indoor lamp it lifts noticeably; in daylight it settles into a clearer red.

Buying it loose

Unset, you see the whole stone: the dome, the girdle and the base, all of which a setting hides. You also choose the metal and the maker instead of inheriting someone else's decisions. At nineteen carats this is a large stone and will need a setting made for it – worth factoring into the cost before you order.

Aqeeq, and what the name carries

Red agate is sold across Pakistan as aqeeq, and specifically surkh aqeeq. The name carries real cultural weight, and it is also attached to a very wide range of material, from fine natural carnelian to heavily dyed chalcedony. The name alone tells you nothing about quality, which is why this page gives you the weight, the rate per carat and a plain statement of what has and has not been tested instead.

Hardness

Agate is chalcedony at Mohs 6.5 to 7 with no cleavage. It is tough against knocks; its polish softens gradually over years of wear because household dust is about as hard as it is. A jeweller restores that easily.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed, and gentle heating is the traditional way pale chalcedony is brought to exactly this warm orange-red. We are not asserting that happened here. We are saying we have not tested it. No origin is recorded.

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 19.05 Carat. Its price is Rs. 13,300 — roughly Rs. 698 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0017 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.