A natural red coral of 7.30 carats, about 8.02 ratti, at Rs. 10,500 – roughly Rs. 1,438 per carat. A long capsule cabochon, about 2.49 times as long as it is wide – one of the longest, narrowest stones in this group.

The lowest rate per carat in this tray

Across the twenty stones in this group the rate runs from about Rs. 1,438 to Rs. 1,985 per carat, and this is the one at the bottom. That is worth explaining rather than presenting as a bargain.

Coral is priced on colour evenness and surface quality, both judged by eye. A stone at the bottom of a range generally has some variation in tone across the face, or a few of the small surface pits that are natural in coral, or both. It is the same material from the same source as the stones at the top of the range; what differs is how uniform it looks. If you are setting it in a bezel that covers the rim, or wearing it as an astrological stone where the weight matters more than the appearance, that difference may be worth very little to you. Ask us for close-up photographs and decide for yourself.

A long narrow stone

At nearly two and a half times as long as it is wide, this is a classic moonga baton. Worn along the finger it reads as a traditional ring; across it, it makes a wide statement but catches more. The ends are the exposed part of a long stone, so a bezel setting that wraps them is worth asking for.

Soft, and chemically delicate

Coral is the calcium-carbonate skeleton of a marine colony, not a mineral: Mohs 3 to 4, softer than almost anything else you will wear. It scratches, and more seriously it dissolves in acid – perfume, hairspray, chlorinated water, vinegar and lemon juice all etch it permanently. It also scorches, so it must be set cold.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Nearly all red coral is waxed or oiled, and a real share is dyed. We will arrange an independent test on request.

Care and ordering

A soft dry cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no soaking. 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 7.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 10,500 — roughly Rs. 1,438 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RC-0018 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 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.