A natural yellow aqeeq – zard aqeeq – of 16.70 carats, about 18.35 ratti, at Rs. 11,700 – roughly Rs. 701 per carat.

Aqeeq and silver

Aqeeq set in silver is the traditional combination in this region, and there are practical reasons for it beyond custom. Silver is soft enough for a jeweller to close a bezel neatly over a domed stone without much risk, and it is cheap enough that a large stone does not have to be accompanied by an expensive mount. A cool metal also throws a strong yellow forward instead of blending with it.

At nearly seventeen carats this is a proper gents' ring stone – broad enough to fill the head of a heavy silver ring, which is where a stone this size belongs.

Colour and shape, measured

Measured across the photograph this is one of the deepest, most saturated stones in this category: a strong, even yellow with very little warm zoning, rather than a banded or patchy one. If you want a single confident block of colour in a silver ring, that is what this is.

It is an oval cabochon, and a properly cut one: comparing its width at every row against a true ellipse puts it among the closest in this category to a real ellipse. It runs about 1.28 times as long as it is wide, with its outline filling about 80% of its bounding box against 78.5% for a perfect ellipse, so a standard oval mount will take it without a special seat.

Dye, said plainly

Yellow agate is often dyed – this site's own disclosure for the stone, and the first thing to say about a colour this strong and this even. Agate takes dye readily and much of the vivid yellow material on the market has had help. Disclosed, that is a normal and old practice rather than a deception, and the colour is stable with sensible care.

The treatment of this stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report. We will arrange independent testing on request.

Hardness and care

At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale agate is a quartz, about as hard as ordinary airborne dust, with no cleavage plane to split along – about as easy as coloured stones get in a ring worn daily. Take it off for heavy work, mainly because silver scratches. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth; avoid solvents, harsh cleaners and prolonged strong sunlight.

Ordering

One stone, sold once. Quote GS-YE-0013 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 16.7 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,700 — roughly Rs. 701 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-YE-0013 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 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.