A natural sulemani agate of 8.20 carats, about 9.01 ratti, at Rs. 5,700 – roughly Rs. 695 per carat. That is the lowest rate per carat in this category, which runs from Rs. 695 to Rs. 704 – a difference of about one per cent, so in practice the pricing here is flat.

Buying it loose

Unset, you see the whole stone: the dome, the girdle and the flat base that a setting would hide. On a banded agate that matters more than it does on most materials, because the pattern usually continues around the sides, and how the bands sit relative to the edge is part of what you are choosing.

You also pick the metal, the style and the jeweller. Silver is the traditional setting for aqeeq in Pakistan, and it is easy for any local jeweller to work, re-size or re-set years later.

The colouring

About 93% of this stone's face reads as a warm colour – amber, brown and cream. Its banding is pronounced, varying by about 50 units of lightness across the stone. If you are picturing the black-and-white stone the sulemani name often brings to mind, that is not what this is; none of the stones in this category is black and white.

Sulemani and tradition

Banded agate has been worn in this region for a very long time, set in silver and often engraved. The name sulemani attaches to the banded kind specifically. We mention the tradition because buyers ask about it; we make no claims about what wearing a stone will do.

Hardness

Agate is Mohs 6.5 to 7, chalcedony with no cleavage planes. Hard enough for daily wear and tough against knocks. The polish softens slowly over years because airborne dust is about as hard as the stone; a jeweller restores it easily.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the treatment has not been tested. Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding. We will arrange an independent test on request rather than guess.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and 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 8.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 5,700 — roughly Rs. 695 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-SU-0005 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.