A natural sulemani agate of 12 carats, about 13.19 ratti, at Rs. 8,400 – exactly Rs. 700 per carat.

Why silver suits aqeeq

Almost every aqeeq sold in Pakistan ends up in silver, and the reasons are practical as much as traditional. Silver is soft enough for any local jeweller to work, re-size and re-set without specialist equipment, which matters for a stone you may want moved to another band in ten years. It costs little enough that the setting does not outprice the stone. And a cool white metal lets a warm banded stone like this one keep its own colour, where yellow gold pushes the whole thing warmer and flattens the contrast between the bands.

The one thing to ask for is a seat that supports the whole base of the cabochon rather than only its rim. A dome resting on a thin ledge is the commonest way an agate ring stone works loose.

The pattern

About 12% of this stone's face reads as near-white, which is the second-highest pale share in this category, over a warm amber body that accounts for about 77% of the face. The banding varies by about 49 units of lightness, so the contrast is real and visible across a room. It is not black and white; nothing here is.

Agate

Sulemani is banded chalcedony: quartz grown in microscopic interlocked crystals, laid down in layers. That structure is why it polishes so smoothly and why it has no cleavage planes to split along. At Mohs 6.5 to 7 it is hard enough for a ring worn daily and tough against knocks.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen the contrast between its bands – exactly the quality this stone is being sold on. We are not claiming it was dyed. We are saying it has not been tested, and we will arrange that rather than ask you to take our word.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap, a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and bleach. 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 12 Carat. Its price is Rs. 8,400 — roughly Rs. 700 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0009 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.

Above twelve carats you are into collector territory. Pieces this heavy are usually set as pendants or kept loose, and they are prized for the size of rough they came from. If you do set it, choose a bezel or a heavy claw to protect the edges.

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.