A natural yellow aqeeq – zard aqeeq – of 18.95 carats, about 20.82 ratti, at Rs. 13,300 – roughly Rs. 702 per carat. Sold loose.

The palest stone in this category, and why that is worth something

Measured across the photograph, this stone is the least saturated of the twenty-two stones here – a soft, translucent, buttery yellow rather than the solid poster-bright colour several of its neighbours carry.

That is a real preference, not a defect. A pale translucent agate lets light through the dome instead of stopping it at the surface, which is what gives a cabochon depth rather than flatness. It also sits far more quietly on the hand: if you find strongly dyed yellow agate garish, this is the stone in this tray to look at.

It is worth adding the honest counterpart: a paler stone is also, in general, a stone that has had less done to it. We are not claiming that as a fact about this piece, because it has not been tested, but it is a reasonable thing to weigh.

A long oval

Measured, it runs about 1.59 times as long as it is wide – among the most elongated stones in this category, where the broadest measures 1.17. Its outline fills about 81% of its bounding box against 78.5% for a true ellipse.

A long oval is a specific shape to design around: it suits a pendant or a marquise-ish ring better than a round bezel, and a jeweller should work from the stone rather than a stock cup.

Buying it unset

Loose, you see the sides and the back a setting would hide, and you choose the metal and the maker. At nearly nineteen carats it will want a mount made for it. A bezel is the simplest and most protective option on a dome.

Dye, said plainly

Yellow agate is often dyed – this site's own disclosure for the stone, and the thing to settle before commissioning a setting. Disclosed dyeing is normal rather than dishonest, and the colour is stable with sensible care. For this stone specifically: the treatment of this stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report. If you are about to have a mount made, that is the moment to have it tested, and we will arrange it.

Hardness and care

At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale agate is about as hard as ordinary airborne dust, so it holds a polish, and it has no cleavage plane to split along. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth; avoid solvents, harsh cleaners and prolonged strong sunlight.

Ordering

One stone, sold once. Quote GS-YE-0017 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 18.95 Carat. Its price is Rs. 13,300 — roughly Rs. 702 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-YE-0017 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.