Feroza is the stone people most often overpay for in Pakistan, and the reason is simple: a dyed piece of howlite and a fine natural turquoise can look similar in a shop window, and the price difference between them is enormous. This is the cheapest feroza by rate in our collection, which makes it a good place to set out how the pricing actually works.

This stone's numbers

12.60 carats, which is 13.85 ratti. Rs. 3,750, about Rs. 298 per carat — the lowest rate in our feroza range. Reference GS-00027. Recorded shape: oval. Origin: Iranian.

What the measurement says about the colour

This is the greenest feroza we list. Measured from the photograph, it reads −41 on the blue-minus-green scale, against −19 on our most blue-leaning stone. Brown matrix covers about 25% of the face. Green turquoise is perfectly genuine — the colour depends on how much iron sits alongside the copper — but it is less sought after than blue, and that is the main reason this stone's rate is where it is. We would rather explain that than let you assume you are getting a blue stone cheaply.

What actually sets a feroza's price

1. Colour, first and by a distance. Even, saturated blue commands the most. Green and blue-green cost considerably less. Chalky pale material least of all.
2. Whether it is natural or stabilised. Stabilisation — clear resin worked into the pores — is common and accepted when declared, but material of good colour that has had nothing worked into it is scarcer and dearer.
3. Matrix. A preference rather than a fault. Clean faces and attractive webbing both sell; muddy, smeared brown does not.
4. Size, last. Large turquoise is not scarce, so the rate per carat does not climb the way it does with faceted gems.

What a fair quote looks like in Pakistan

• Green or blue-green with matrix: roughly Rs. 250 to Rs. 800 per carat. Our four stones all sit in this band.
• Even mid-blue, good body: roughly Rs. 800 to Rs. 3,750 per carat.
• Fine even blue, natural, minimal matrix: well above that, and a laboratory report becomes worth paying for.
• Bright uniform blue for Rs. 50 per carat is dyed howlite. Nothing else explains it.

Treatment

This stone has not been tested, and the specification sheet says so plainly rather than implying it is natural. Stabilisation is the common, accepted treatment; dyeing and reconstitution are not, and we do not sell either. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged before dispatch if you want certainty.

Care

Feroza rates 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale and is porous. It absorbs skin oils, perfume, soap and cosmetics, which can change its colour over years. Soft dry cloth only; no ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no hot water. Put jewellery on after perfume.

Read further

Our feroza price guide goes into far more detail, the general price guide puts feroza alongside other stones, and the real or fake guide covers the imitations. The carat to ratti converter handles the conversion if you think in ratti, and the rest of the range is on the collection page.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan by insured, tracked courier, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. Dimensions have not been recorded; message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural feroza with a weight of 12.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,750 — roughly Rs. 298 for each carat. Origin: Iran. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-00027 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 feroza rates 5 to 6. That makes it soft for a gemstone, better suited to pendants, earrings and rings for special occasions than to a daily ring. Keep it away from perfume, cleaning products, steam and ultrasonic cleaners, and polish it with a dry, soft cloth after wear.

Whoever you buy feroza 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 feroza 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): Most turquoise (feroza) is stabilised with resin to harden it; natural, unstabilised feroza is rarer and costs more. 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.