A natural yellow agate – zard aqeeq – of 10.55 carats, about 11.59 ratti, at Rs. 7,400 – roughly Rs. 701 per carat.

Why "honey" is the right word for this one

Warm-sounding words get attached to stones that do not deserve them, so here is the measurement behind this one.

Across the photograph, this stone's hue sits among the two most golden of the twenty-two stones in this category – well towards the orange end rather than the lemon end – and about 41% of its face carries a distinctly warm honey-orange tone. For comparison, several stones in this tray measure zero on that same count: they are flatly, coolly yellow with no warmth at all.

In the hand that reads as a deeper, softer, more amber stone than a typical bright yellow agate. It is also among the less saturated stones here, which is part of the same character: the colour is warm and translucent rather than solid and poster-bright.

Against yellow gold this is the easy choice in the tray – honey against gold is a natural pairing. Against silver it reads warm and slightly antique rather than crisp.

Shape

An oval cabochon, about 1.33 times as long as it is wide, with its outline filling about 81% of its bounding box against 78.5% for a true ellipse – a conventional proportion that takes a standard oval mount.

Dye, said plainly

Yellow agate is often dyed. That is this site's own disclosure, and on a stone sold partly on its colour it belongs near the top rather than in the small print. Agate takes colour readily and a great deal of the yellow and honey-toned material on the market has had help. Disclosed, that is normal practice rather than deception, and the colour is stable with sensible care.

The treatment of this stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report. If the answer matters to you, ask us and we will arrange independent testing before you buy.

Hardness and care

Agate is a chalcedony – quartz – at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, about as hard as ordinary airborne dust, so it keeps a polish through daily wear. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth; keep it away from solvents, harsh cleaners and prolonged strong sunlight.

Ordering

One stone, sold once. Quote GS-YE-0010 when you message us. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs or a video, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural yellow agate with a weight of 10.55 Carat. Its price is Rs. 7,400 — roughly Rs. 701 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-YE-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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

On the Mohs scale yellow 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 yellow 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 yellow 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): Yellow agate is often dyed. 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.