This is the one genuine cabochon among the twenty rubies on this page. A cabochon is cut as a smooth polished dome with no facets on top, and you can see that clearly in the photograph: an unbroken curve with a single soft highlight rather than the flat planes a faceted stone throws. Its outline is recorded as oval. It weighs 5.50 carats, and its colour is recorded as Red.

Why a cabochon costs less per carat

The price is Rs. 9,380, which is about Rs. 1,705 per carat. That is a fraction of what the faceted rubies here run at, and the reason is simple: cabochon cutting is chosen for material that would not reward faceting, usually because it is too included or too dense in colour to sparkle. What you get in exchange is size and depth of colour for the money. In ratti, 5.50 carats is 6.04 ratti. The reference for this stone is GS-000563.

If your budget is fixed and you want weight on the finger, this cut is the honest way to get there. If you want the stone to throw light back at you across a room, it is not, and you should look at the faceted pieces on this page instead even though they cost several times more per carat.

Ruby, yaqoot, and hardness

Ruby is red corundum, called yaqoot in Urdu. It is 9 on the Mohs scale, which is why it holds a polish for years of everyday wear. A dome has no sharp girdle edge for a knock to catch, so this is arguably the most hard-wearing way any stone can be cut, this one included.

Treatment, and what we have not done

Most ruby (yaqoot) is heated, and lower grades may be glass-filled; we do not sell glass-filled ruby as natural ruby. Glass filling matters more in domed material than in fine faceted goods, which is exactly why we say it here rather than leave it out. This stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report for it. We will not claim it is unheated and we will not promise you paperwork we do not hold. Independent testing can be arranged before you buy if it matters to you, and we would encourage it at this size.

Setting and care

A 5.50 carat dome suits a broad silver ring or a pendant where the curve catches light as you move. Bezel settings and domed stones go together naturally. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning entirely, which is standard advice for any stone whose treatment has not been established.

Buying this one

Cash on Delivery works across Pakistan, so you can look at the dome under your own light before paying. Returns within 7 days of delivery. Tracked, insured courier. WhatsApp +92 308 887 3888 with reference GS-000563 and ask us anything you want to know about it.

Questions people ask about this stone

Is a cabochon worth less than a faceted ruby? Per carat, almost always, and this one is no exception at Rs. 1,705 per carat. A dome is cut for material that would not reward faceting. That is a fair trade if you want size and colour rather than sparkle, and a poor one if you want the stone to flash.

Will it scratch? Not easily. Ruby is 9 on the Mohs scale, and a dome has no sharp edge for a knock to catch, so this shape stands up to daily wear as well as anything we sell.

Do you know if it has been heated? No, and we will not guess. The stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report for it. We can arrange independent testing before you commit if you want to know.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ruby, known in Urdu as Yaqoot, with a weight of 5.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,380 — roughly Rs. 1,705 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000563 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale ruby rates 9. Few materials will scratch it, so it copes well with everyday ring wear. A soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush keeps it bright; skip the ultrasonic cleaner if inclusions reach the surface.

Whoever you buy ruby 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 ruby 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): Most ruby (yaqoot) is heated, and lower grades may be glass-filled; we do not sell glass-filled ruby as natural ruby. 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.