A natural red agate of 8.90 carats, about 9.78 ratti, at Rs. 6,200 – roughly Rs. 697 per carat. An oval cabochon, delivered anywhere in Pakistan.

What you are actually buying

A single stone, photographed as it is, with its weight, its price and its rate per carat stated on the page. When it sells, the listing closes rather than being refilled with something that looks similar. That is worth saying because loose agate is usually sold by the handful, and the stone that arrives is often not the stone in the picture.

The rate per carat is the number to compare with. Across this whole tray of eighteen red agates the rate sits between Rs. 692 and Rs. 706 per carat, which is deliberately flat: we are not charging more per carat for the larger stones, so the price you pay tracks the weight almost exactly.

Colour and size

Measured from the photograph, about 92% of this stone's face reads as a saturated red, and it is mid-dark – more open than the near-black agates at the small end of this tray, less bright than the oranges at the large end. At just under nine carats it is a comfortable size for a gents' silver ring without being heavy on the hand.

Hardness

Agate is chalcedony, Mohs 6.5 to 7, with no cleavage planes, so it takes knocks better than many harder stones. Airborne dust is about as hard as agate, so a daily-worn cabochon slowly loses a little of its polish over years; a jeweller brings it back in minutes.

What has not been tested

There is no laboratory report for this stone, and its treatment has not been tested. Red agate is often heated or dyed to deepen its colour. That is ordinary trade practice rather than a fault, but it is a fact about a stone, and facts about stones should come from tests rather than from sellers. We will arrange testing if you want it settled first.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap, a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and household bleach while the treatment is unknown. Cash on delivery across the country lets you look at the stone before you pay. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red agate with a weight of 8.9 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,200 — roughly Rs. 697 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RE-0007 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.