The red aqeeq ring is the single most worn piece of gemstone jewellery in Pakistan, and almost all of it is on men. It is worth being specific about what makes one stone right for that job and another one wrong, because at this price point the differences are easy to see once you know what you are looking at.

The stone

26.45 carats, which is 29.07 ratti. Natural red agate — surkh aqeeq. Rs. 18,500, about Rs. 699 per carat, reference GS-RE-0022. One piece only.

What makes a good men's aqeeq

1. Enough weight to fill a wide band. Men's silver rings in the traditional style use broad shanks. A small stone looks lost in one. At 26.45 carats this fills a substantial ring comfortably.
2. A colour that works in oxidised silver. Deep red against blackened silver is the classic look. Very bright or orange-leaning reds fight with the metal.
3. A low profile. A ring worn every day through work, driving and prayer should not stand high off the finger. Ask your jeweller for a low bezel rather than tall claws.
4. Durability. Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage — it takes knocks far better than a faceted transparent stone would.
5. Honest treatment disclosure. Covered below, and the thing most sellers skip.

Wearing it

In the traditional practice the aqeeq ring is worn in silver, usually on the right hand. That custom comes from Islamic tradition rather than from anything about the mineral, and we pass it on as custom — not as a promise. Our aqeeq for men page covers the tradition, the metal and how the ring is usually made.

The treatment question, answered straight

Red agate is often heated or dyed to deepen its colour. That is the honest position for the stone type and it is what this listing's specification says, instead of a blanket claim that it is untreated. Heating is old and accepted. Heavy dyeing is a different matter, and here is how to check: colour that pools inside surface cracks, a hard line where the colour stops near the base, and a red so flat and even that it looks printed. Natural material almost always varies a little across the face. The method is set out in our guide to spotting dyed and glass aqeeq, and our red agate buying guide covers a first purchase.

Can I have it tested?

A certificate of authenticity comes on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. You pay the rider only after the parcel is open, and the seven-day return window runs from delivery, so you can also take it to a laboratory of your own choosing before the sale is final.

Measurements

Shape and dimensions have not been recorded for this piece. Message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it and photograph it against a scale, which your silversmith will want before cutting a bezel.

Ordering

Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched within one to two working days. Cash on Delivery, seven days to return it unused. More stones in the red agate collection, and finished ring costs on our aqeeq ring page.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red agate with a weight of 26.45 Carat. Its price is Rs. 18,500 — roughly Rs. 699 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0022 when you message us about it. The picture is a representative photograph of this type of stone, not of this individual piece, so the stone you receive will differ in its markings and outline. Its weight and price above are this stone's own, and we will send photographs of the actual piece on WhatsApp before you buy.

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.