Below are the questions we hear most from people buying a natural gemstone from Authentic Gems: how we check stones, how ratti and carat relate to each other, what sets a price, how Cash on Delivery works and what to do if you want to send a stone back. For the longer versions, read our authenticity page, the shipping and delivery details and the returns policy. To change a ratti weight into carats, the carat to ratti converter does it for you, and if you know a stone only as neelam, pukhraj or yaqoot, see gemstone names in Urdu and English. Can't find your question? Send us the product link or your order number on WhatsApp, or email hello@authenticgems.pk, and we will reply on the same or the next working day.
Authenticity
Are your gemstones natural?
Yes. Authentic Gems sells natural loose gemstones only, and each stone is inspected by us before it is listed. Glass, lab-grown stones and anything that is not what it was offered to us as never reaches the site. Known treatments, such as heating in ruby and sapphire or oiling in emerald, are written on the listing.
Is the stone in the photos the one I will get?
Yes. Every listing is a single stone, photographed as it is and shown with its own carat weight. The stone in those pictures, with its small inclusions, is the one we pack and send.
Can I get a certificate?
Yes. You can ask for an Authentic Gems certificate of authenticity with any stone you buy. It records the variety, weight, measurements, colour and any treatment we know of. If you want a view from outside the shop, independent lab testing can be arranged too.
How are a guarantee card, a certificate and a lab report different?
The guarantee card is our written promise as the seller, backed by the 7-day return window. The in-house certificate sets down what we found when we inspected the stone. A lab report is issued by an independent laboratory with no part in the sale, and our authenticity page explains which document suits which kind of stone.
Can a lab test the stone before I pay?
Yes. Send us the stone's link on WhatsApp before you order and we will explain how independent testing would work for it. For higher-value stones such as neelam, pukhraj, yaqoot, zamurd or marjan, we recommend asking for a lab report before you pay.
If a stone is treated, does that make it fake?
No. A heated sapphire or an oiled emerald is still a natural stone, and both treatments have been normal in the trade for a very long time. What matters is that the treatment is disclosed, and we never pass off a treated stone as untreated.
Ratti & Carat
What exactly is a ratti?
The ratti is the traditional weight for gemstones in Pakistan. The standard gem ratti is 0.91 carat, or roughly 0.182 grams. Our carat to ratti converter works out the numbers both ways.
Why do two jewellers quote different ratti weights for one stone?
Because two different units go by the same name. The standard ratti for gemstones is 0.91 carat, while the sunari ratti that goldsmiths use is smaller, about 0.1215 grams or roughly 0.61 carat. Always ask which ratti is meant before comparing two stones.
How many ratti make one carat?
One carat is about 1.1 standard ratti, since 1 divided by 0.91 is 1.099. Going the other way, multiply a ratti weight by 0.91 to get carats. And one carat is exactly 0.2 grams.
What is 5 ratti in carats?
In standard ratti, 5 ratti is 4.55 carats (5 x 0.91), which is 0.91 grams. If the seller is using sunari ratti, the same 5 ratti comes to only about 3.04 carats. That difference is why you agree on the unit before you agree on a price.
Do your listings show carat or ratti?
Every listing gives the carat weight, because carat is the international unit and the one used on certificates and lab reports. For the standard ratti figure, divide the carats by 0.91 or use the converter. We will gladly confirm any stone's ratti weight on WhatsApp.
Is a heavier stone always bigger?
No. Gemstones differ in density, so a 3 carat sapphire looks clearly smaller than a 3 carat amethyst. If the stone must fit a particular ring, check its millimetre size as well as its weight, and ask us for measurements if the listing does not give them.
Price
How do you price a stone?
Each stone is priced on its own, according to its variety, colour, clarity, cut, size, origin where we know it, and any treatment. Two stones of the same kind and weight can be far apart in price on colour and clarity alone. The price you see is the price for that one stone.
Where can I see typical gemstone prices?
Our gemstone prices in Pakistan guide shows the lowest, typical and highest prices across our own listings for each type of stone, per stone, per carat and per ratti, and it is refreshed every month. Each category page then lists every stone individually with its own price, so you are comparing real pieces.
How do you calculate the per-carat price?
It is the stone's price divided by its carat weight. With that figure you can compare two stones of the same kind side by side, even if they weigh different amounts.
How do I convert a per-ratti quote to a per-carat rate?
If the quote uses standard ratti, divide the per-ratti rate by 0.91 to get the per-carat rate, or multiply a per-carat rate by 0.91 to go back. Check which ratti the seller means first, because a sunari ratti rate gives a very different answer. The converter page has worked examples.
Why does a bigger stone cost more per carat?
Big, clean, well-coloured stones are far rarer than small ones, so for most gems the per-carat rate rises with weight. To judge whether a rate is fair, compare stones of similar size, colour and treatment. The shop also has budget filters if you would rather start from what you want to spend.
Delivery & COD
Do you offer Cash on Delivery?
Yes, everywhere in Pakistan. You pay the rider in cash when the parcel arrives, so nothing is paid upfront.
Can I open the parcel before paying?
Yes. Open it and look at the stone before you pay the rider. If anything looks different from the listing, message us on WhatsApp straight away, and the 7-day return window still applies after payment.
How long does delivery take?
Orders leave Karachi within 1 working day of being confirmed. 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 in up to about 7. Everything goes by insured, tracked courier, so ask us for the tracking number whenever you like.
What does delivery cost?
A flat Rs. 500 per order, as set out on the shipping policy page. It is charged per order, not per stone, so several stones in one order travel together for the one fee.
Which cities do you deliver to?
All of them, starting with Karachi and reaching every city in Pakistan by insured, tracked courier. If you live in a smaller town, WhatsApp us your address and we will confirm the courier goes there.
Do you ship outside Pakistan?
No. We deliver within Pakistan only, and all prices and payments are in Pakistani rupees.
Returns
What is your return policy?
You have 7 days from delivery to return a stone for a refund or an exchange. It needs to be unused, in its original condition and packaging, and sent back with its certificate if one was issued.
What can't be returned?
A stone that has been set in jewellery, recut or altered cannot come back. Custom-cut and other made-to-order pieces cannot be returned either, unless they arrive damaged or not as described, in which case tell us within the same 7 days.
How do I start a return?
Message or call us on WhatsApp, or email hello@authenticgems.pk, within 7 days of delivery. Give us your order number and a short reason, with photos if you think the stone is different from its listing, and we will send you return instructions.
How do refunds get paid?
When the stone reaches us, we check it is the same stone in the same condition. We then process the refund within 3 to 5 business days, by bank transfer, since orders are paid in cash on delivery.
Can I swap my stone for another one?
Yes. Pick a different stone from the shop and mention it when you ask for the return. If the new one is priced higher or lower than the first, we settle the difference with you.
Wearing & Islamic stones
Which gemstone should I wear?
Begin with the colour, size and budget that appeal to you. If an astrologer or an elder in the family has recommended a stone, tell us which one and we will suggest individual stones that fit. Our guide on which gemstone to wear covers the usual approaches.
Which finger and metal should I wear a stone in?
That depends on the tradition you follow. In Vedic astrology, for instance, pukhraj is traditionally worn on the index finger in gold and neelam on the middle finger in silver. Go by the advice of whoever recommended the stone, as customs differ between families and astrologers.
What are Islamic gemstones?
Stones with a long place in Muslim tradition, such as aqeeq, feroza, dur-e-najaf and moh-e-najaf. Many families wear aqeeq in a silver ring or keep a tasbih of stone beads. For any question of religious ruling, please ask a scholar you trust.
Why do so many men choose silver for a stone ring?
Many Muslim men choose silver because of the widely held view that gold jewellery is for women, and silver suits stones like aqeeq, feroza and dur-e-najaf well. If you are unsure what applies to you, ask a scholar you trust.
Should the stone touch the skin?
Many astrologers traditionally recommend an open-back setting so the stone rests against the skin. This is a matter of belief, not something we can promise, so follow the advice you were given.
Can you set my stone in a ring?
We can talk through a custom silver ring setting on WhatsApp. Send us the stone you have chosen and your ring size; our ring size guide shows how to measure your finger at home.
Care
How should I clean a gemstone?
Use lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, brush gently with a soft brush, then dry with a soft cloth. Softer and porous stones such as pearl, coral, amber, feroza and malachite only need a wipe with a damp cloth.
How do I store loose stones?
Keep each one separately in a soft pouch or a lined box. Hard stones like sapphire and ruby will scratch softer ones such as opal, pearl and agate if they are thrown in together.
Is an ultrasonic cleaner safe?
Not for oiled emeralds, opal, pearl, coral, amber, feroza, lapis lazuli or malachite, as the heat and vibration can damage them. Even with hard stones, ask us first if the stone has fractures or has been treated.
Can a stone lose its colour?
Some can. Kunzite and amethyst may fade after long spells in strong sunlight, so keep them out of the sun when stored. Most sapphires, rubies and garnets hold their colour.
Should I take my ring off for housework?
Yes. Take it off for cleaning with chemicals, gardening, the gym and heavy work, and put it on after perfume and cream, not before. One hard knock can chip the edge of even a hard stone.
