A natural sulemani agate of 11.20 carats, about 12.31 ratti, at Rs. 7,800 – roughly Rs. 696 per carat, near the bottom of this category's narrow range.

The quietest stone in the tray

Worth saying plainly, because it is the opposite of what most sulemani listings emphasise. This stone has the gentlest banding of all sixteen: its lightness varies by only about 21 units across the face, where the most strongly banded stone here varies by 59. It is also one of the darkest, with an average brightness of about 67 on a 0-255 scale.

The result is a deep, almost uniform stone with subtle tonal movement rather than bold stripes. For a man's ring that is often exactly right: it reads as a serious, sober stone across the hand rather than a decorative one, and it does not compete with the silver it is set in.

Men's jewellery and aqeeq

Agate in a silver ring is one of the oldest and most widespread forms of men's jewellery in this region, and sulemani is among the names most asked for. At a little over twelve ratti this is a substantial ring stone, enough to be the point of the piece without standing so high that it catches on everything.

Ask your jeweller for a bezel rather than claws. At Mohs 6.5 to 7 agate is hard enough for daily wear, but a rim of metal around the edge takes the knocks a man's ring inevitably collects.

Agate is chalcedony

Quartz grown in crystals too small to see, laid down in layers. The bands are those layers, recorded as the stone formed in a cavity in volcanic rock. Because the crystals interlock and there are no cleavage planes, agate resists chipping better than many harder gems.

About 95% of this stone's face reads as a warm colour. It is not black and white; nothing in this category is.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding. On a stone this evenly coloured the question is less pressing than on a high-contrast one, but it is still open, and we will arrange a test on request.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap, a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and bleach. Take the ring off for heavy work. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 11.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 7,800 — roughly Rs. 696 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0007 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 sulemani agate rates 6.5 to 7. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy sulemani agate 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 sulemani agate 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): Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding. 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.