A natural red agate of 6.70 carats, about 7.36 ratti, at Rs. 4,700 – roughly Rs. 701 per carat. An oval cabochon with a glossy dome.

Why silver and aqeeq go together

Almost every aqeeq sold in Pakistan ends up in silver, and the reasons are practical as much as traditional. Silver is soft enough for any local jeweller to work, re-size and re-set without specialist equipment, which matters for a stone you may want moved to a different band years later. It is inexpensive enough that the setting does not cost more than the stone. And a cool white metal does not push warmth into a red stone the way yellow gold does, so the colour reads closer to what you see in the hand.

The one thing to ask your jeweller for is a seat that supports the whole base of the cabochon rather than just its rim. A dome sitting on a thin ledge is the commonest way an agate ring stone works loose.

A middling colour, which is the point

This stone sits between the near-black agates at the small end of our tray and the bright oranges at the large end: measured, about 60% of its face reads as dark, against 93% for the darkest here and 5% for the brightest. In the hand that is a readable red rather than either extreme, which is usually what people picture when they ask for a red aqeeq for a ring.

Hardness and daily wear

Chalcedony is Mohs 6.5 to 7 and has no cleavage, so it survives the knocks a ring takes. Its polish will soften very slightly over years because airborne dust is about as hard as the stone, and a jeweller can bring it back.

What has not been tested

There is no lab report for this stone and its treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed; that is ordinary trade practice, not a fault, but we will not assert either way without a test. Ask us and we will arrange one.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap, a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners while the treatment is unknown. 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 6.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,700 — roughly Rs. 701 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0005 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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

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.