A natural sulemani agate of 7.30 carats, about 8.02 ratti, at Rs. 5,100 – roughly Rs. 699 per carat.

Why this one is worth a second look

It has the strongest pale banding of any stone in this category. Measured across the photograph, about 20% of its face reads as near-white, where every other stone here measures under 12% and most under 4%. The result is a bold, high-contrast pattern rather than the subtle tonal banding that is more usual in this material.

That contrast is what a collector of banded agate actually looks for, and it is the one thing in sulemani that cannot be manufactured by cutting: either the rough had a clean pale band running through it in the right place, or it did not. About 61% of the face reads as a warm colour – the lowest warm share in this category, because so much of it is given over to the pale band. The pale band is cream rather than white: this is not black and white, and nothing in this category is.

What "collector stone" means here, and what it does not

It means an unusually strong pattern, measured. It does not mean rarity, provenance or investment value, and it carries no laboratory opinion of any kind, because no laboratory has seen this stone. Banded agate is a common material; what varies is how striking an individual piece is.

Sulemani agate

Sulemani is the banded form of agate, which is itself chalcedony – quartz grown in crystals too small to see. In Pakistan it is sold as sulemani aqeeq or sulemani hakik, and it has been set in silver rings here for generations. The bands are the record of how the stone grew, layer by layer, in a cavity in volcanic rock.

Hardness and care

Agate is Mohs 6.5 to 7 with no cleavage planes, so it is tough against knocks and practical for daily wear. Its polish softens very slowly over years because airborne dust is about as hard as the stone. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth are all it needs.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report exists for this stone and its treatment has not been tested. Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen exactly the kind of contrast described above. We are not saying this stone was dyed. We are saying nobody has tested it, and we would rather tell you that than let a strong pattern speak for itself.

Care and ordering

No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no 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 7.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 5,100 — roughly Rs. 699 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0002 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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

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.