Sulemani aqeeq is the banded one. Where red aqeeq is prized for an even colour, sulemani is bought for the opposite reason: the stripes. Those bands are growth layers, laid down over a very long time as silica filled a cavity, and no two stones have the same pattern.

The stone

18.95 carats, which is 20.82 ratti. Natural sulemani agate — sulemani aqeeq. Rs. 13,300, about Rs. 702 per carat, reference GS-SU-0020. One piece; the banding makes it genuinely unrepeatable.

How to judge a sulemani

• Contrast between the bands. Crisp light-and-dark layers are what you are paying for. Muddy, blurred transitions are the commonest fault.
• Where the bands sit. A stone cut so the banding runs across the centre of the face looks deliberate. One where the pattern runs off the edge looks like an offcut.
• Straight or concentric. Both are collected. Straight parallel banding is the classic men's ring look; concentric "eye" patterns are rarer and sought after.
• Polish. Sulemani is usually cut as a cabochon or flat-top, and a good polish makes the bands snap into focus. A dull finish flattens them.

Our guide to judging sulemani goes through this with examples.

What the name means

Sulemani is named for Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon), and the stone carries a long association in the subcontinent with protection and steadiness. In the West the same banded material is sold as banded agate or, in its black-and-white form, as sardonyx. These are traditions and trade names, not claims about what the stone will do. The Islamic gemstones page sets out the background.

Is sulemani dyed?

Sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding — that is the honest position for the stone type and what this listing's specification says. Sulemani is dyed less often than black or bright red agate, because the appeal is the natural pattern rather than a single strong colour. Still, check for colour pooling in cracks and for bands that look too uniformly sharp. Our dyed and glass aqeeq guide shows what to look at, and we can arrange independent laboratory testing on request.

What size ring does 18.95 carats suit?

A standard men's silver ring. It is substantial enough to show the banding properly without standing high off the finger. Shape and measurements have not been recorded — ask on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it before your jeweller starts.

Durability and care

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, with no cleavage — well suited to a ring worn every day. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach, no ultrasonic cleaner. Water does not harm it, so wudu is fine; dry the ring afterwards so water does not sit under the stone.

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. See the patterns side by side in the sulemani agate collection, and pricing in our price guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 18.95 Carat. Its price is Rs. 13,300 — roughly Rs. 702 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0020 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.