A natural red coral of 7.75 carats, about 8.52 ratti, at Rs. 15,380 – roughly Rs. 1,985 per carat. A capsule cabochon, about 1.95 times as long as it is wide.

This carries the highest rate per carat in the tray

Across the twenty stones in this group the rate runs from about Rs. 1,438 to Rs. 1,985 per carat, and this stone sits at the very top of that band. It is worth being straight about what that does and does not mean.

It means we judged the colour and the surface to be the best of this batch – that is what coral is priced on, because there is no clarity to grade and no cut to assess. It is a judgement made by eye, by people who handle a lot of coral, and we are not pretending otherwise. It does not mean a laboratory agreed, because no laboratory has seen this stone, and it does not mean the stone is untreated.

If you are comparing against another seller, the sum to do is the same one: total price divided by carat weight.

Coral is soft, and that is the whole of its care

At Mohs 3 to 4, coral is softer than a coin, softer than a steel key, softer than ordinary household dust. Ask your jeweller for a bezel setting rather than claws, store it away from harder stones, and take the ring off for anything rough.

More importantly: coral is calcium carbonate, and acid dissolves it. Perfume, hairspray, chlorinated swimming water, vinegar and lemon juice all etch the polish and the damage is permanent. This ruins more coral than dropping it ever has.

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 meaningful share is dyed. For a stone at the top of our range this is exactly the question worth settling, and we will arrange an independent test on request rather than ask you to take our word.

Care and ordering

A soft dry cloth, nothing else. 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 7.75 Carat. Its price is Rs. 15,380 — roughly Rs. 1,985 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RC-0020 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.