A natural sulemani agate of 13.40 carats, about 14.73 ratti, at Rs. 9,400 – roughly Rs. 701 per carat.

The most strongly banded stone in the category

The name is not decoration. Measured across all sixteen stones in this group, this one's lightness varies the most from one end of the face to the other: about 59 units on a 0-255 scale, against 21 for the quietest stone here. In plain terms, it has the boldest stripes of the lot.

What the bands actually are

They are growth layers, and they are worth understanding because they are the whole of what makes sulemani sulemani.

Agate forms inside a cavity in volcanic rock. Silica-rich water seeps in and deposits chalcedony on the cavity wall, layer upon layer, over a very long time. Each layer's colour depends on what trace elements happened to be in the water when it formed, so the bands are a record of changing conditions – a geological diary, read in cross-section. A cutter choosing where to slice the rough decides which part of that record ends up on the face of the stone, which is why two cabochons from the same nodule can look entirely different.

About 93% of this stone's face reads as a warm colour: amber and brown over cream. Despite the name's associations, this is not a black-and-white stone, and nothing in this category is.

Hardness

Agate is chalcedony – quartz in crystals too small to see – at Mohs 6.5 to 7, with no cleavage planes. Hard enough for a ring worn daily and genuinely tough against knocks. The polish softens slowly over years because household dust is about as hard as the stone; a jeweller restores it in minutes.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. This matters more here than on most stones in the category: sulemani agate is sometimes dyed specifically to sharpen the contrast between its bands, which is the exact quality this listing is named for. We are not saying this stone was dyed. We are saying nobody has tested it, and on a stone sold for its banding we would rather tell you that plainly. Ask us and we will arrange a test.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and 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 13.4 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,400 — roughly Rs. 701 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0012 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.