Ask a silversmith in Peshawar or Lahore what weight of aqeeq a men's ring takes and the answer usually lands between fifteen and twenty-five carats. Lighter and the stone looks lost in a wide band; heavier and it starts to overhang the finger and catch on sleeves. At 17.30 carats this sits squarely in that window.

The stone

17.30 carats, which is 19.01 ratti. Natural sulemani agate — banded, so the pattern is unique to this piece. Rs. 12,100, about Rs. 699 per carat, reference GS-SU-0018.

Why aqeeq suits a man's ring better than most stones

1. It survives real wear. 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and no cleavage planes. A knock that would chip a faceted transparent stone does nothing to a cabochon agate.
2. It takes a low profile. Cut as a cabochon or flat-top, it sits close to the finger instead of standing up where it snags.
3. Water does not harm it. Wudu, washing and rain are all fine. Dry the ring afterwards so water does not sit under the stone and dull the silver.
4. It looks right in silver. Oxidised 925 silver is the traditional setting and the one that suits the stone's muted colours.
5. It is affordable at size. At about Rs. 700 a carat you can have a genuinely large natural stone without the price of a faceted gem.

Specifying the ring

For a stone this weight, ask for a 7 to 10 mm shank in 925 silver and a low bezel rather than tall claws — the rim protects the edge of the stone and nothing sticks out to catch. Oxidised finish for the traditional look. Our aqeeq ring price page breaks down the metal and labour separately from the stone, and aqeeq for men covers the tradition, including the custom of wearing it on the right hand.

Why banded rather than plain?

Taste, mostly. A banded sulemani has something to look at; a plain red is bolder from a distance. Banding also hides the small surface marks that a daily-worn stone eventually picks up, which a flat single colour shows up. Our guide to judging sulemani covers what makes one pattern better than another.

Treatment

Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding, and our specification says so rather than claiming this stone is untreated. Check for colour pooling inside cracks and for bands that look unnaturally crisp and even. A certificate of authenticity is available on request, independent laboratory testing can be arranged, and you can have it checked yourself inside the seven-day return window since you pay on delivery.

Measurements

Shape and dimensions have not been recorded for this piece. Send your finger size on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure the stone and quote a mount.

Ordering

One piece only. 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 stones in the sulemani collection and the red agate collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 17.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 12,100 — roughly Rs. 699 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0018 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.