Black Agate Prices in Pakistan: What Makes One Kala Aqeeq Cost More

Black agate, kala or siyah aqeeq as most people here call it, is a stone a lot of people buy for their very first ring. It is affordable, tough and easy to pair with silver, and it carries the familiar name of aqeeq. Because it is so common, sellers compete hard on price, and the real differences between stones are easy to miss.

This guide explains where your money actually goes with a black agate. With this stone, price depends less on rarity and more on how deep the black is, how well it was cut and polished, its shape, and whether you are told honestly how the colour was produced. You will also find a price table from our own listings, a note on per-ratti quotes, and a checklist for comparing sellers. Our black agate collection shows every stone with its own photo and weight.

Black agate prices from our listings

This table is built from the black agate we currently list and is updated every month. It shows the lowest, typical and highest price per stone, plus the same figures per carat and per ratti.

Black Agate · October 2026 edition · PKR, from Authentic Gems listings. 1 ratti = 0.91 carat.

Weight	Weights	Stones	Per carat	Per ratti
3 – 6 carat	3.7 – 6.0 ct	11	Rs 70 – Rs 170	Rs 60 – Rs 150
6 – 10 carat	7.0 – 9.4 ct	6	Rs 130 – Rs 190	Rs 120 – Rs 170
Over 10 carat	10.8 – 33.8 ct	12	Rs 70 – Rs 200	Rs 60 – Rs 180

Use it as a yardstick for other quotes. Black agate is easy to find, so a quote well above this range should come with a clear reason, such as unusual size, a finely carved shape or a ready-made silver ring. The monthly gemstone price guide covers other stones the same way.

First, how black agate gets its colour

Agate is a banded form of chalcedony, which is a type of quartz. Agate that is naturally jet black is uncommon. Most black agate for sale, here and around the world, is grey or pale agate dyed black with a sugar-and-acid process that has been used for a very long time. The colour it produces is permanent and stable.

That affects price in two ways:

• Dyed black agate is a legitimate product and is priced as an affordable stone. It should be disclosed, and we state known treatment on every listing.
• A seller asking a big premium for "natural, undyed" black agate should be able to explain how they know. Without testing, it is hard to prove.

Our black agate buying guide goes deeper into dyeing, and the guide to spotting dyed and glass aqeeq shows the checks worth doing.

How deep and even the black is

Once you accept that most black agate is dyed, the quality of the colour becomes the main thing separating one stone from another. A deep, even, inky black across the whole stone is worth more than one with grey patches, faint bands or brownish zones where the dye took unevenly.

Shine a strong light through the edge of the stone. A little very dark brown or grey at the thinnest point is normal. Pale spots in the body, or bands showing through as grey stripes, bring the price down.

Polish: where most of the value sits

A finely polished black agate looks almost like black glass, with a mirror shine that makes the colour seem even deeper. A poorly polished one looks dull and a bit grey. Agate is about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and takes a superb polish, so a dull finish usually means rushed work.

• Tilt the stone so a light reflects off it and look for fine scratches.
• Look for a straight, crisp reflection; a wobbly one means an uneven surface.
• Check the edges for small chips from rough handling.

On a stone this affordable, the gap between an average polish and a fine one is small in rupees and huge in how the ring looks for years to come.

Shape and cut

Black agate is cut in plenty of ways, and the cut changes the price more than the raw material does.

• Cabochons (smooth domes) are the most common and the cheapest.
• Flat tablets, often used in men's rings, need careful, even polishing and clean edges.
• Faceted stones take more work and usually cost a little more.
• Engraved stones, with names or calligraphy cut into the surface, are priced on the quality of the engraving as much as on the stone.

Whatever the shape, symmetry matters: an even outline, a centred dome and a level base all make for a neater ring.

Size

Agate forms in big masses, so size doesn't push the per-ratti price of black agate up much. Larger stones cost more in total simply because they weigh more, and very large, perfectly even pieces carry a small premium. To see what that means in practice, compare our 10.80 carat black agate with our 14.35 carat black agate.

Black agate, onyx and look-alikes

In the trade, black agate and black onyx often mean the same thing: dyed black chalcedony. Some sellers say "onyx" for a more uniform black and "agate" for stones with visible bands, but there is no fixed rule. Our onyx collection holds stones sold under that name.

Imitations include black glass, plastic and resin. Glass may show tiny round bubbles under a loupe and feels less cool to the touch; plastic feels light and warm. Hematite and black tourmaline are different stones altogether, priced on their own terms. If you'd prefer a banded look to solid black, our sulemani agate collection is the natural next stop.

How it wears, and why that affects value

Black agate is one of the best-value stones for a ring worn every day. It is hard enough to shrug off most knocks and not porous enough to soak up soap or oils, and the dyed colour is permanent and won't fade with wear. Over the years the polish may lose a bit of its mirror shine where the ring meets desks and doors, and a jeweller can repolish it for very little. A stone that starts with a fine, even polish stays looking good longer, which is one more reason to look at the finish when comparing quotes.

Per carat or per ratti

In our bazaars black agate is usually quoted per ratti, though many dealers sell ready-cut ring stones by the piece. The standard gemstone ratti is 0.91 carat, about 0.182 grams. The jewellers' sunari ratti is smaller, about 0.1215 grams or roughly 0.61 carat. A 10.92 carat stone is 12 standard ratti but about 18 sunari ratti. Always ask which one is meant, and check the total with our carat to ratti converter.

Comparing two quotes

1. Same treatment status. Ask whether the colour is dyed. Most is, and that's fine when it is disclosed.
2. Same unit. Confirm the ratti, or compare in carats.
3. Same cut. Don't compare a faceted or engraved stone with a plain cabochon.
4. Polish. Ask for a photo that shows a reflection on the surface.
5. The stone on its own. If a silver ring is included, ask for the stone's price separately. Our aqeeq ring price page explains how ring costs add up.
6. Returns. Check what happens if the stone doesn't match the listing.

Budget bands in the shop filters

Most black agate sits in the lowest budget band, which is exactly why it is so often someone's first stone.

• under 5,000 rupees: where most black agate ring stones are found.
• 5,000 to 20,000 rupees: the occasional large, finely finished or specially cut piece.
• 20,000 to 50,000 rupees and over 50,000 rupees: not usually needed for black agate, but useful if you are comparing with other aqeeq or precious stones.

Tradition

Aqeeq in every colour has a long place in Muslim tradition, and many people in Pakistan wear black aqeeq as a guard against nazar, as a matter of family belief. For background, see aqeeq for men and gemstones for protection. For questions of religious practice, please ask a scholar you trust.

What a ready-made aqeeq ring adds

Lots of people buy black agate already set in silver. It is convenient, but it hides the stone's price. The total covers the weight of silver, the making charge and the stone, and the stone is often the smallest of the three. When comparing rings, ask for the silver weight and making charge separately. A heavy ring with a plain stone can cost more than a lighter one with a beautifully polished stone, and only the second will look better on your hand.

Buying the loose stone and having it set gives you more control: you pick the exact stone first, then the design and metal. The chandi ring with stone page and the stone setting service explain how that works.

Pricing traps

• "Rare natural black" with nothing to back it up. A premium for undyed colour needs a convincing reason.
• Paying per ratti for glass. Look for bubbles and a warm, light feel.
• Comparing a cabochon with an engraved stone. Engraving is skilled work and changes the price.
• Overlooking the polish. A dull stone is no bargain, however cheap.

Buying black agate from Authentic Gems

Every black agate we list has its own photo, weight and price, with known treatment stated. Orders are confirmed by phone or WhatsApp and leave Karachi within one working day by insured, tracked courier. Karachi addresses usually receive them in 1 to 2 working days, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and the other major cities in 2 to 4, and smaller towns within about 7. Open the parcel and check the stone before paying the rider, and you have seven days to return it. For help picking a size for a ring, message us on WhatsApp.

Shop the stones: black agate.

The beliefs mentioned on this page are traditions, shared for interest only. They are not guaranteed outcomes, religious rulings or medical advice.