A natural white agate – safed aqeeq – of 22.30 carats, about 24.51 ratti, at Rs. 15,600 – Rs. 700 per carat.

The most elongated stone here, which is what a pendant wants

Measured from the photograph this stone is about 1.39 times as long as it is wide – the most elongated of the eleven in this category, where the least measures 1.27.

That matters for a pendant specifically. A long oval hangs straight and reads as deliberate; a nearly-round stone of the same weight tends to look like a button and to swing. The extra length also gives a bail somewhere sensible to sit.

At twenty-two carats it has real presence, and agate is light for its size, so it will not drag on an ordinary chain.

A cool, quiet white

Of the eleven stones here this one carries the least warm tone and one of the narrowest spreads of brightness across its face – an even, slightly cool white rather than a creamy or a dramatic one. Against a silver chain that reads clean and modern; it is the least "antique" looking stone in this tray.

The dye question

With aqeeq this matters more than price. Our published disclosures: black agate is almost always dyed, strong green agate is usually dyed, yellow agate is often dyed, red agate is often heated or dyed.

White agate is usually untreated, because there is no reason to dye a stone the colour it already is. That is the material rather than this piece: the treatment of this stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report. Ask and we will arrange independent testing.

Hardness and wear

Agate is a chalcedony – quartz – at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, about as hard as ordinary household dust, with no cleavage plane to split along. A pendant is the gentlest life a stone can have in any case. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.

Ordering

One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs or a video, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural white agate with a weight of 22.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 15,600 — roughly Rs. 700 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-WH-0010 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 white 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 white 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 white 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): White agate is usually untreated. 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.