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Islamabad sits within a day's drive of the mountains where much of Pakistan's own gem rough is dug. Peridot from Kohistan, aquamarine and tourmaline from Gilgit-Baltistan, emerald from Swat and topaz from Katlang near Mardan all pass through the region on their way to market. It is no surprise, then, that buyers in the capital often ask for Pakistani stones by name. Authentic Gems sends natural, individually photographed stones from Karachi to every sector of Islamabad, from F-6 and E-11 to G-13, DHA and Bahria Enclave, by insured courier with Cash on Delivery.
Stones from Pakistan's north
These are the home-grown gems worth knowing. When a stone in our collection is Pakistani, the listing says so; when it is from Sri Lanka, Africa or elsewhere, the listing says that instead.
| Stone | Known Pakistani source | What good material looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Peridot (zabarjad) | Kohistan | Bright lime to olive green, often clean at larger sizes |
| Aquamarine (beruj) | Gilgit-Baltistan, Shigar valley | Clear sky blue to sea blue |
| Emerald (zamurd) | Swat | Deep green, mostly in small sizes |
| Tourmaline | Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral | Greens, pinks and two-colour stones |
| Topaz | Katlang, Mardan | Pink and sherry shades, a Pakistani speciality |
| Sapphire (neelam) | Kaghan valley | Medium to dark blue, usually small |
| Ruby (yaqoot) | Hunza, Azad Kashmir | Pinkish red, often best as cabochons |
Alongside these, the full collection carries the classic imports, such as Sri Lankan sapphire, African ruby and emerald, opal, feroza and Yemeni aqeeq, depending on what is in stock that week.
Stones the capital asks for on astrological advice
Like the rest of the country, many Islamabad buyers come with an astrologer's recommendation: neelam for Saturn, pukhraj for Jupiter, yaqoot for the Sun, zamurd for Mercury. Send us the stone and weight you were given and we will suggest natural options from stock. These are traditional beliefs, so we describe the stone honestly and do not promise a result. The gemstones by rashi guide covers all twelve signs with the customary finger, metal and day.
Buying sensibly in the twin cities
The local trade is lively and mixed. Three rules apply wherever you shop:
- Daylight, loupe, per-carat rate. Look at the stone by a window under a 10x loupe, then divide the price by the carat weight.
- Treatment in writing. Heated sapphire and lightly oiled emerald are normal. Glass-filled ruby and dyed turquoise at natural-stone prices are not.
- A report for a big purchase. For a valuable stone, ask for an independent lab report stating species, natural origin and treatment.
The real vs fake gemstones guide covers the giveaways stone by stone, and our authenticity page sets out what you get from us: every stone inspected, known treatments disclosed, a certificate of authenticity on request and independent testing arranged if you ask.
Delivery to Islamabad
- Insured, tracked courier to every sector of Islamabad and on to Rawalpindi. Orders leave Karachi within 1 working day of confirmation and usually arrive in 2 to 4 working days.
- Flat Rs. 500 delivery per order, however many stones.
- Cash on Delivery, with the right to open the parcel and look at the stone before paying.
- 7-day returns for a refund or exchange if the stone is unused and in its original packaging. See the return policy and shipping policy.
Rings and care
If you want the stone in a custom silver ring, we can talk it through on WhatsApp. Peridot and emerald need gentler handling than sapphire, and Islamabad's cold winters and dry air are no problem for any of them. The gemstone care guide explains how to clean and store each one.
Get in touch
Message us on WhatsApp, call, or email hello@authenticgems.pk, Monday to Saturday, or send a message through the site.
Courier time to Islamabad
We pack Islamabad orders in Karachi within one working day of confirming them, then send them by insured overnight courier. Most arrive in 2–4 working days. Public holidays, weather and Cash on Delivery checks can occasionally add a day, and you get a tracking number either way.
Popular stones for Islamabad: Aqeeq · Emerald · Labradorite · Lapis Lazuli · Moonstone · Moss Agate · Opal · Peridot · Tiger Eye · Tourmaline — or see all 996 stones.
Other cities we deliver to: Karachi · Lahore · Rawalpindi · Faisalabad · Multan · Peshawar · Hyderabad · Quetta · Sialkot · Gujranwala · Sukkur · Larkana · Bahawalpur · Sargodha · Abbottabad · Mardan · Gujrat · Jhelum · Sahiwal · Rahim Yar Khan · Dera Ghazi Khan · Mirpur (AJK) · Gilgit · Skardu
