A natural tiger eye of 28.65 carats, about 31.48 ratti, at Rs. 2,630 – roughly Rs. 92 per carat.

What "premium" means here, and what it does not

The word is on the label, so it should be defined rather than left to do vague work.

What it does mean. This is the equal-largest stone in the category at 28.65 carats, and the dearest in total at Rs. 2,630. It is also the brightest of the six, with a mean lightness of about 107 on a 0-255 scale against 82 for the darkest here, and the most strongly coloured: about 91% of its face reads as golden brown, a warm, saturated honey-bronze with very little dark banding breaking it up.

What it does not mean. This is not the most chatoyant stone here. Its band measures 22.6% of mean lightness, which is the weakest of the six, where the strongest reaches 33.9%. It is also the least directional at 1.87, against 3.11 for the crispest band in this tray – meaning its sheen is spread more evenly over the dome rather than gathered into one travelling line.

So: if you want size and a rich, even colour, this is the best stone in the category. If what you want is the moving band of light, a cheaper stone here gives you noticeably more of it, and we would rather say so than take the larger sale.

"Premium" also does not mean graded. No stone in this category has been assessed by any laboratory.

About the rate

At Rs. 92 per carat this is near the bottom of our range, which runs from Rs. 84 to Rs. 226 per carat across the six. Large tiger eye is always cheaper per carat than small tiger eye: cutting and polishing cost much the same whatever the weight, so on a big stone that work is spread thin. The rate is low because the stone is big, not because it is poor.

What tiger eye is

A quartz built of parallel fibres. Light bouncing off all of them at once gathers into a bright band at right angles to the fibre direction, which travels as you tilt the stone – chatoyancy, from the French for cat's eye. In Urdu the stone is chashm-e-babri. At Mohs 7 it is hard enough for daily wear, though at nearly thirty carats a pendant or a protected setting suits it better than an exposed ring.

Colour and treatment, plainly

Golden brown is the natural colour of tiger eye, and this stone is a particularly clean example of it. The red and some of the blue tiger eye sold elsewhere is produced by heating or dyeing. This stone has no laboratory report and its treatment has not been tested, so that is the norm for the material rather than a statement about this piece.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Keep it away from harsh cleaners, and do not leave it in prolonged direct sun. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural tiger eye with a weight of 28.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 2,630 — roughly Rs. 92 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000480 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 tiger eye rates 7. It handles daily wear, but a hard knock can still nick an exposed corner, so a protective setting is a sensible choice. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep it away from abrasive cleaners and high heat.

Whoever you buy tiger eye 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 tiger eye 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): Tiger eye is usually untreated; red and some blue colours are produced by heating or dyeing. 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.