A natural red coral of 9.70 carats, about 10.66 ratti, at Rs. 15,750 – roughly Rs. 1,624 per carat. An elongated cabochon, about 1.61 times as long as it is wide.

How red coral is actually priced

Since this listing is about price, here is the whole of it rather than a slogan.

Coral is not priced like a mineral gem. There is no clarity grade and no cut grade, and size matters far less than it does for sapphire or ruby, because coral grows in branches and a larger piece is not especially rarer than a smaller one. What drives the price is colour and surface: an even, deep red with no pale patches, no white spotting and no visible pits costs considerably more per carat than a stone with any of those, at the same weight.

Across the twenty stones in this group our rate runs from about Rs. 1,438 to Rs. 1,985 per carat. This one sits near the lower end of that band at Rs. 1,624. The honest comparison when you shop elsewhere is to take the total, divide by the carat weight, and hold the result against those figures. If a seller will not give you the carat weight, you cannot do the sum, and that itself tells you something.

What "original" can and cannot mean

It means natural coral – the real skeleton of a marine animal, not dyed bone, not pressed coral powder, not plastic, all of which are sold as moonga. That much we stand behind.

It does not mean untreated and it does not mean certified. This stone has no laboratory report and its treatment has not been tested. Nearly all coral is waxed or oiled, and a real share is dyed. Anyone who tells you a red coral is certainly undyed without a report in their hand is guessing, and the test is cheap: ask us and we will arrange one.

Softness, and the real risk

Coral is Mohs 3 to 4, so it scratches easily and wants a bezel setting. But the thing that actually ruins coral is acid, not abrasion: it is calcium carbonate, and perfume, hairspray, chlorinated water, vinegar and lemon all etch it permanently.

Care and ordering

A soft dry cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no soaking, no chemicals. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan with payment on delivery so you can look at the stone before you pay.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural red coral, known in Urdu as Marjan, with a weight of 9.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 15,750 — roughly Rs. 1,624 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-RC-0031 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.