Iran has produced turquoise for thousands of years, and the name most of the trade still uses for fine material — Persian turquoise — comes from there. It is the reference point everything else is measured against, which is why "Iranian feroza" carries weight in a Pakistani shop. This is the largest feroza we list, at a rate that reflects a stone with real character rather than a flawless one.

The stone

15 carats, which is 16.48 ratti. Rs. 4,500, about Rs. 300 per carat, reference GS-00026. Origin: Iranian. One piece, as photographed.

What it actually looks like

We measured the photograph rather than relying on impression, and it is worth being precise because turquoise is described loosely more often than almost any other stone. Brown matrix covers about 27% of this stone's face — just over a quarter — running as broad veins rather than fine webbing. The turquoise itself reads −32 on the blue-minus-green scale, which places it in the middle of our range and on the green side overall. There are genuinely blue zones across the stone, particularly towards one end, but the body as a whole is a mixed blue-green rather than an even sky colour. If you want a uniformly blue stone, this is not it, and we would rather say so than let the photograph do the arguing.

Why size matters less here than you would think

At 15 carats this is comfortably the biggest feroza we carry. Turquoise is not priced like a faceted gem: large material is not scarce, and what moves the price is colour evenness, the character of the matrix, and whether the stone is natural or stabilised. A big stone with honest character costs less per carat than a small clean one.

Treatment

Not tested, and our specification sheet records that rather than claiming better. Stabilisation — clear resin worked into the pores to harden the stone and hold its colour — is common in feroza, accepted when it is declared, and quite different from dyeing. We will arrange independent laboratory testing before dispatch if you want to know exactly where this stone stands.

Care

Feroza rates 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, which is soft for a ring stone, and it is porous. It takes in skin oils, perfume, soap and cosmetics, and that can shift its colour over years. Jewellery goes on after perfume, not before. Soft dry cloth only — no ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no hot water, no chemicals. A bezel setting is worth the extra money on a stone this size.

How to tell real feroza from the imitations

• Suspiciously perfect blue at a low price usually means dyed howlite or magnesite.
• Dye collecting in the cracks is the giveaway — look along the matrix lines under a loupe.
• Plastic feels light and warms quickly against the lip. Stone stays cool.
• Reconstituted turquoise shows an unnaturally even speckle, like a pressed block rather than a grown mineral.

Our real or fake feroza guide goes through each of these, and the authenticity page explains what we verify ourselves.

More

The quality guide covers colour and matrix, the price guide covers rates, and the feroza page covers the tradition behind the stone. 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 15 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,500 — roughly Rs. 300 for each carat. Origin: Iran. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-00026 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.