This 12.6 carat Irani feroza, GS-00027, is priced at Rs. 3,750 and comes from Iran. Before you order, here is what is worth checking and why.

• Weight: 12.6 carats, about Rs. 298 per carat, so the price is easy to compare with the other turquoise we list.
• Colour: a soft sky blue. View it in daylight and look for even tone across the surface.
• Hardness: 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Check the edges for any chipping when you open the parcel.
• Treatment: turquoise is often stabilised with resin, so put the question to us on WhatsApp and we will answer from our records.
• Dryness: do not leave it soaking in water or cleaner. A soft dry cloth is enough.

Feroza has long been worn in Pakistan as a stone of protection and calm, which is tradition rather than a promise. If you are going to have it mounted, a silver pendant or a ring worn with care suits its softness. The 7-day return window gives you time to inspect it properly, and the rest of the feroza range is there if you want to compare sizes.

Order with Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan: open the parcel, check the stone, then pay. If it is not right for you, you have 7 days to return it. Before you choose, read our feroza guide.

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.