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For centuries Quetta has sat on the roads that join South Asia to Afghanistan and Iran, and gemstones have always travelled those roads alongside dried fruit, carpets and everything else. Rough and cut stones from Afghanistan and from Pakistan's own northern ranges still pass through the region. Living near a trading post teaches you what rough looks like. It also means imitations move along the same routes as the real thing. Authentic Gems sends natural, individually photographed stones from Karachi up the N-25 to Quetta by insured, tracked courier, with Cash on Delivery.
Stones of the trade route
- Lapis lazuli from Badakhshan in north-eastern Afghanistan, one of the oldest gem sources in the world still being worked. Good lapis is a deep, even blue, sometimes with fine gold flecks of pyrite.
- Emerald (zamurd) from the Panjshir valley in Afghanistan and from Swat in Pakistan.
- Tourmaline in pink, green and blue from the pegmatites of eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.
- Peridot (zabarjad), the bright green stone of Kohistan.
- Aquamarine and garnet from the northern mountains.
Quick checks for trade-route stones
| Stone | Usual imitation | Simple check |
|---|---|---|
| Lapis lazuli | Dyed lapis, or dyed howlite or sodalite | With the seller's permission, rub a hidden spot with a cotton bud and a little acetone. Blue on the cotton suggests dye. |
| Emerald | Green glass; stones heavily filled with resin | Under a loupe, natural stones show irregular inclusions; round gas bubbles mean glass. |
| Peridot | Green glass | Peridot shows clear doubling of the facet edges under a loupe; glass does not. |
| Any stone | Synthetics sold as "top quality" | Get the carat weight and compare the per-carat rate; cheap perfection is rarely natural. |
Home checks only point the way; an independent lab confirms. Our gemstone buying guide has more.
Rough, or a finished stone?
Buying rough is a bet on what it will give after cutting, and it almost never comes with paperwork. A finished stone from Authentic Gems is a known quantity: each listing is one natural stone, cut, weighed and photographed as it is, with its own price. We inspect every stone and disclose known treatments. Emeralds, for instance, are commonly oiled, which is normal but should always be stated. A certificate of authenticity is available on request and independent lab testing can be arranged. See our authenticity page.
Classic and traditional stones
Quetta customers also order the precious and ring stones worn all over Pakistan: neelam (blue sapphire), yaqoot (ruby), pukhraj (yellow sapphire), aqeeq and feroza. Feroza, from the Persian firoza, has long been worn for protection right across the Persian-speaking world, and among Pashtun and Baloch families too. These are traditions and beliefs, not promised effects. The rashi guide covers astrological pairings, and the gemstone names page gives Urdu, Persian-derived and English names.
Delivery from Karachi to Quetta
Choose a stone in the shop or send your requirements on WhatsApp. After confirmation, the order leaves Karachi within 1 working day and the insured, tracked courier usually delivers within 2 to 4 working days to Satellite Town, Jinnah Road, Samungli Road, Cantt and the rest of the city. Weather on the highway in winter can occasionally add a day. Delivery is a flat Rs. 500 per order, and every product page shows the price of that one stone.
- Cash on Delivery: check the stone against its photos before you pay the rider.
- 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.
- Ring setting: a custom silver ring setting can be discussed on WhatsApp.
Contact us
From Quetta, WhatsApp is the easiest way to reach us. You can also email hello@authenticgems.pk, Monday to Saturday, or send a message.
Courier time to Quetta
We pack Quetta 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 Quetta: 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 · Islamabad · Rawalpindi · Faisalabad · Multan · Peshawar · Hyderabad · Sialkot · Gujranwala · Sukkur · Larkana · Bahawalpur · Sargodha · Abbottabad · Mardan · Gujrat · Jhelum · Sahiwal · Rahim Yar Khan · Dera Ghazi Khan · Mirpur (AJK) · Gilgit · Skardu
