A natural red agate weighing 5.10 carats, about 5.60 ratti, at Rs. 3,600 – roughly Rs. 706 per carat. It is an oval cabochon, polished to a smooth dome rather than faceted.

Agate, aqeeq and surkh aqeeq

These are three names for one material. Agate is the mineralogical term for banded chalcedony; aqeeq is the Arabic and Urdu name used across Pakistan; surkh aqeeq simply means the red kind. None of them describes a different stone or a different quality, and a seller using the Urdu name is not offering you something other than agate. Chalcedony itself is quartz – the same mineral as rock crystal – grown in crystals too small to see without magnification, which is what gives agate its even, glassy body instead of the transparency of a single quartz crystal.

Reading the colour honestly

This is a dark stone. Measured across the photograph, about 90% of its face reads as dark, so expect a deep, closed red that needs direct light to show its colour rather than a bright cherry tone. Red agate of this depth is common and inexpensive; the paler, brighter oranges in this same tray are no better or worse, only different to look at.

Hardness

Chalcedony is Mohs 6.5 to 7. It has no cleavage, which makes it genuinely tough – it takes a knock far better than a harder but more brittle stone would. What it does not resist is fine abrasion, because airborne quartz dust is about as hard as it is, so a cabochon worn every day for years will slowly lose a little of its mirror polish. A jeweller can restore that in minutes.

What is not established

No laboratory report exists for this stone and its treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed to strengthen its colour. That is standard practice in the trade worldwide and is not a defect, but it is not something we will state either way without evidence. We also do not list an origin, because none has been recorded for this stone.

Care and ordering

Clean with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Skip the ultrasonic cleaner and steamer while the treatment is unknown. Store it apart from harder stones. This is a single stone, sold once and not restocked. Ask us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver anywhere in Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red agate with a weight of 5.1 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,600 — roughly Rs. 706 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0002 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

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.