Aqiq, aqeeq, akik, hakik — the same stone, spelled whichever way the transliteration fell. If you searched for "aqiq" you are looking for chalcedony agate, the stone worn in silver rings across Pakistan, and this is one: a natural yellow agate of 25.30 carats.

The stone

25.30 carats, which is 27.80 ratti. Natural yellow agate. Rs. 17,700, about Rs. 700 per carat, reference GS-YE-0021. One piece only.

Buying aqiq in Pakistan: what to actually check

1. Is it stone or glass? Glass shows round gas bubbles under a loupe and warms in your hand quickly. Agate stays cool for a moment and shows no bubbles.
2. Is the colour natural or dyed? The big question, and the one covered below.
3. Is the per-carat rate sane? Ordinary agate sits around Rs. 700 a carat. Wildly above that needs justifying; wildly below usually means dyed or synthetic.
4. Can you inspect before paying? If not, walk away. Everything on this site is Cash on Delivery for exactly this reason.
5. Will they put the treatment in writing? Ours is on every listing, including this one.

The dye question for yellow

Yellow agate is often dyed — that is the honest position for this stone type and it is what our specification sheet says rather than claiming the stone is untreated. Yellow is one of the easier colours to fake convincingly, so it deserves more scrutiny than a grey or a banded stone. Look for colour sitting inside surface cracks, a hard edge where the colour stops near the base, and a yellow so uniform it looks painted on. Natural material usually varies in depth across the face and often carries faint banding. Our guide to spotting dyed and glass aqeeq and our yellow agate pricing guide both cover this.

Delivery anywhere in Pakistan

Flat Rs. 500 by insured, tracked courier to every city, dispatched within one to two working days, with most addresses receiving the parcel inside about seven working days. You pay the rider after the parcel is open and you have looked at the stone.

Can I have it tested?

Independent laboratory testing can be arranged on request. There is no laboratory report for this stone. The seven-day return window runs from delivery, so you can also take it to a laboratory of your own choosing and send it back unused if the result is not what you expected. More on our authenticity page.

What is 25.30 carats good for?

A large men's silver ring in the traditional style, or a substantial pendant. Shape and measurements have not been recorded for this piece — message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it and photograph it against a scale.

Durability

Agate is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage, so it takes daily wear well. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; no bleach and no ultrasonic cleaner.

Before you decide

Compare it against the rest of the yellow agate collection and the other colours in the family, and see how the rates are built in our gemstone price guide. The Urdu and English name list matches aqiq, aqeeq and hakik to their English equivalents.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural yellow agate with a weight of 25.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 17,700 — roughly Rs. 700 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-YE-0021 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.