Natural Gemstones in Abbottabad

Natural stones for Abbottabad and the towns of Hazara, sent from Karachi by insured courier with Cash on Delivery.

Abbottabad is the main town of Hazara division, sitting in a green bowl of pine-covered hills that stay cool enough to draw families up from the plains every summer. It takes its name from James Abbott, the British officer who laid it out in the 1850s, and it is known across the country for its schools and for the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul. The Karakoram Highway runs north from Havelian through Abbottabad and Mansehra towards Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, the same road that has carried much of Pakistan's mountain gem rough south for decades. Authentic Gems is an online store in Karachi, at the other end of the country. We have no shop in Abbottabad, but we deliver natural stones across Hazara with Cash on Delivery.

Stones Abbottabad asks for, and why

Buyers here often want the stones of the northern mountains, alongside the classic astrological set:

• Peridot (zabarjad): Pakistan's best-known peridot comes from Kohistan, further up the highway. Read more about Kohistan peridot.
• Emerald (zamurd): Swat's emerald deposits lie not far to the west, and many local buyers know the soft, slightly bluish green of a Swat stone. See Swat emerald.
• Aquamarine (beruj): the pale blue stone of the Gilgit-Baltistan pegmatites, a popular gift.
• Neelam and pukhraj: still the stones families ask about most on an astrologer's advice, linked with Saturn and Jupiter in Vedic astrology.
• Aqeeq: the everyday ring stone for many Hazara men, worn in silver.

Planetary and protective meanings are traditions. We describe them, but we do not promise any result.

Checking a stone locally

Sitting on the highway, Abbottabad sees a good deal of rough and cut stone passing through. Some of it is fine; some is glass or heavily treated material sold as "pahari" stone. A few checks help:

1. Daylight first. Look at the stone by a window, not under a counter lamp.
2. Ask about treatment and origin as two separate questions. "From Swat" or "from Kohistan" is a claim. Only a laboratory can support an origin, and not always even then.
3. Be wary of a perfect emerald. Natural emerald nearly always shows visible inclusions, known as jardin. A flawless, cheap green stone is usually glass or synthetic. Our emerald real or fake guide explains more.
4. Compare in carats, or in standard ratti of 0.91 carat. The goldsmith's sunari ratti is about 0.61 carat, so always ask which one is meant. The carat to ratti converter does the maths.

Delivery to Abbottabad and Hazara

Once confirmed, your order leaves Karachi within 1 working day. The insured, tracked courier usually delivers in 3 to 5 working days to Abbottabad city, Jinnahabad, Supply, Mandian and the Cantonment, and to Havelian, Mansehra and Haripur. Nathia Gali, Ayubia and the higher villages can take up to about 7 working days, and winter snow on the Galiyat roads occasionally adds a little more. Delivery is a flat Rs. 500 per order; see our shipping policy, and the gemstone delivery page for tracking and packing.

Cash on Delivery: look before paying

You pay in cash when the parcel arrives. Open it in front of the rider, compare the stone with its listing photos, and only then pay. Each listing at Authentic Gems is a single stone with its own photos, weight and price, so there is no swap between what you chose and what turns up. Not sure what to pick? WhatsApp us your budget, or start with our mid-range stones.

Certificates and returns

Every stone is natural, with known treatments disclosed. A certificate is available on request, and independent lab testing can be arranged; the authenticity page sets this out. You can return an unused stone within 7 days of delivery for a refund or an exchange, as the return policy explains.

Stones for students and young officers

With Abbottabad's schools, colleges and the academy at Kakul, many parents here buy a first ring for a son or daughter. For daily wear in a hostel or on training, pick a hard stone in a simple, low setting. Sapphire, ruby and aquamarine shrug off knocks far better than opal, pearl or emerald. Our gemstone ring for men guide covers shapes and settings, and the ring size guide helps you get the size right.

Contact us

WhatsApp us, email hello@authenticgems.pk, or use the contact page. Every order is checked and packed at our base in Karachi.