Hussaini aqeeq is a name from the devotional tradition rather than from gemmology. It refers to banded agate of the sulemani family worn in remembrance of Imam Hussain, and it is asked for most often around Muharram. No laboratory report will ever carry the word — what a report confirms is that the stone is natural banded agate, which is what this one is.

The stone

18.10 carats, which is 19.89 ratti. Natural banded sulemani agate. Rs. 12,700, about Rs. 702 per carat, reference GS-SU-0019. One piece; banding makes every stone in this family genuinely unrepeatable.

What people look for in a Hussaini stone

• Clear banding. Distinct light-and-dark layers rather than a muddy blur. The bands are growth layers from the cavity the stone formed in.
• A face that shows the pattern. Cut so the banding crosses the centre, not running off one edge.
• A size for a silver ring. Around 15 to 20 carats is the practical range for a men's ring, which is where this one sits.
• Plain silver, not gold. The traditional setting is 925 silver, usually with a broad shank and a low bezel.

On the tradition, honestly

The religious associations of aqeeq in the Muslim world are long-standing and the reason the stone is worn at all by many of our customers. We pass the tradition on as tradition. We do not claim the stone brings protection, blessing or any particular outcome, and anyone who tells you it does is selling rather than describing. Our Islamic gemstones page and Muharram stones page set out the background as background.

Is it dyed?

Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding, and our specification sheet says that for this stone type rather than claiming it is untreated. It is dyed less often than black or bright red agate, because here the appeal is the natural pattern rather than one strong colour. Check for colour pooling inside cracks and for bands that look unnaturally sharp and even. The method is in our guide to spotting dyed and glass aqeeq, and judging sulemani quality covers the pattern itself.

Can I have it verified?

A certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay the rider on delivery, you can also take it to a laboratory of your own choosing inside the seven-day return window.

Measurements

Shape and dimensions have not been recorded for this piece. Ask us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it and photograph it against a scale before your silversmith cuts a bezel.

Care and delivery

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, with no cleavage — suited to a ring worn daily. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach and no ultrasonic cleaner. Water does not harm it, so wudu is fine, but dry the ring afterwards. 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 patterns in the sulemani agate collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 18.1 Carat. Its price is Rs. 12,700 — roughly Rs. 702 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0019 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.