A natural red coral of 16.95 carats, about 18.63 ratti, at Rs. 25,500 – roughly Rs. 1,504 per carat. It is the largest stone in this group of twenty, cut as an elongated cabochon.

What "premium" means on this page

Two measured things, and nothing else. First, size: at almost seventeen carats this is the biggest coral in the group by a clear margin. Second, rate: it carries the same total price as the 13.45 carat stone in this same tray, which means you are paying Rs. 1,504 per carat here against Rs. 1,896 there – about a fifth less for each carat of the same material.

What it does not mean: there is no grade, no certificate and no laboratory opinion of any kind behind this listing, because no laboratory has examined the stone. Coral is graded in the trade by colour and by how free the surface is of pits and white spotting, and those are judgements, not measurements.

Coral is not a mineral

This matters more than it sounds. Red coral is the hardened skeleton of a marine animal, built from calcium carbonate laid down over decades. It has no crystal structure, which is why it carves and polishes so smoothly and takes the deep glow it does – and also why it is soft. In Pakistan it is sold as moonga or marjan, and in South Asian astrology it is the stone of Mars (Mangal), traditionally worn in a copper, gold or silver ring after consulting an astrologer. That is a tradition, not a guaranteed outcome.

Softness is the thing to plan around

Coral sits at 3 to 4 on the Mohs scale, softer than almost anything else we sell and softer than ordinary household dust. A coral ring worn daily for years will lose its polish; that is normal rather than a defect, and a jeweller can re-polish it. Ask for a bezel setting that protects the edges, and take the ring off before anything rough.

Worse than abrasion is chemistry. Calcium carbonate reacts with acid, so lemon juice, vinegar, perfume, hairspray and chlorinated pool water all attack the surface. Put the ring on last when dressing and take it off first.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report exists for this stone and its treatment has not been tested. Nearly all red coral on the market is waxed or oiled to lift its lustre, and a meaningful share is dyed to deepen or even out the colour. Both are ordinary trade practice rather than fraud, but neither can be judged by eye, so we state neither. Ask us and we will arrange an independent test before you buy.

Care and ordering

Wipe with a soft dry cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no soap soak, no chemicals. Store it away from harder stones. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan with payment on delivery.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red coral, known in Urdu as Marjan, with a weight of 16.95 Carat. Its price is Rs. 25,500 — roughly Rs. 1,504 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RC-0035 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 coral rates 3 to 4. That makes it soft for a gemstone, better suited to pendants, earrings and rings for special occasions than to a daily ring. Keep it away from perfume, cleaning products, steam and ultrasonic cleaners, and polish it with a dry, soft cloth after wear.

Whoever you buy red coral 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 coral 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 coral (marjan) is often waxed to improve lustre, and some coral is dyed. 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.