Silver and aqeeq go together for reasons that are partly religious and partly practical. The tradition specifies silver; the metal also happens to suit the stone, because oxidised 925 silver darkens into a background that makes agate banding and colour read clearly. This page is about getting the ring right rather than just the stone.

The stone

16.60 carats, which is 18.24 ratti. Natural sulemani agate. Rs. 11,600, about Rs. 699 per carat, reference GS-SU-0017. One piece only.

Specifying the ring

1. Metal. 925 sterling silver is the standard. Anything lower in silver content tarnishes badly and wears thin at the shank.
2. Band width. For a stone of this weight, a 7 to 10 mm shank balances it. A narrow band makes the stone look top-heavy and bends over time.
3. Setting. A low bezel — a rim of silver all around — is the traditional and the most protective choice. Claws let in more light but catch on cloth and need checking once a year.
4. Finish. Oxidised (blackened) silver is the classic look for aqeeq. Bright polished silver suits paler stones better.
5. Weight of the finished ring. Ask your silversmith. A ring that is too light for a 16 carat stone will distort; too heavy and you will stop wearing it.

Our aqeeq ring price page breaks down what the metal and the labour cost separately from the stone, so you can see where the money goes.

Which hand, which finger

The customary practice is the right hand, in silver. That comes from Islamic tradition rather than from the mineral, and we pass it on as custom — not as a claim about outcomes. The background is on our aqeeq for men page.

Will it survive daily wear?

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage, which makes it one of the more forgiving ring stones — it takes knocks that would chip a faceted transparent gem. Water does not harm it, so wudu and washing are fine; dry the ring so water does not sit under the stone and dull the silver. Warm soapy water and a soft brush for cleaning, never an ultrasonic cleaner.

Treatment

Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding. Our specification says so for this stone type rather than claiming it is untreated. A certificate of authenticity comes on request, independent laboratory testing can be arranged, and because you pay on delivery you can have it checked yourself inside the seven-day return window. See our dyed and glass aqeeq guide for the checks.

Measurements

Shape and dimensions have not been recorded for this piece. Send us your finger size on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure the stone and quote the mount separately, so the stone price and the silver price stay visible.

Ordering

Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery, seven days to return it unused. More ring-sized stones in the sulemani agate collection and the aqeeq collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 16.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,600 — roughly Rs. 699 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0017 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.