Natural Aqeeq (Agate) Stone in Pakistan

What Aqeeq actually is

Agate and carnelian are microcrystalline quartz, close cousins of plain chalcedony. They sit at roughly 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough for a ring worn every day for years. Trade names like Yemeni or Irani describe a look and a traditional source, and where we know where a stone came from, its listing says so plainly.

The kinds of Aqeeq people ask us for

• Yemeni Aqeeq - the classic choice: a deep, glassy red to orange-red carnelian that glows evenly when you hold it up to a bulb.
• Irani Aqeeq - good colour and natural banding, usually a little easier on the pocket than Yemeni.
• Sulemani Aqeeq - black-and-white or brown-and-white banded agate with a bold, graphic pattern.
• Shajri Aqeeq - agate with fern- or tree-like inclusions, which has its own section under moss agate.

What makes one Aqeeq worth more than another

With red Aqeeq, a rich, even red that lets light through cleanly is what people pay for. With banded stones it is the pattern: sharp, regular bands with strong contrast are wanted most. After that come the practical points: no cracks across the face, a good polish, a well-proportioned shape. Size matters too, since a large clean piece is harder to find. Every listing gives the price of that single stone, and if you want to compare, divide the price by the carat weight to get a per-carat rate.

Dyed and fake Aqeeq

Agate is slightly porous, so it takes dye easily, and a lot of the cheap "aqeeq" in bazaars has been coloured. Be wary of shades nature does not make in agate, such as electric blue, hot pink or a dead, flat black, especially if the colour looks perfectly even or sits darker inside cracks. Glass copies often show tiny bubbles and warm up quickly in the hand. A natural stone normally has gentle shifts in tone and fine banding when you hold it to the light. We check every piece before it is listed; our authenticity page explains how.

Aqeeq and Muslim tradition

For many families Aqeeq is less about fashion and more about faith. It is widely worn in a silver ring as a practice people connect with the Sunnah, often on the right hand, and stones are sometimes engraved with a name or a short dua. It is traditionally associated with protection, calm and barakah. These are matters of belief and custom, not promised effects. If you want to talk about a silver setting, message us on WhatsApp.

Looking after it

A little mild soap in warm water and a soft cloth is all Aqeeq needs. Keep it away from bleach and strong cleaners, which can dull the polish.

Ordering Aqeeq from Authentic Gems

The exact stone you pick is the one we pack. You pay Cash on Delivery, and you can open the parcel in front of the rider and look at the stone before handing over any money. Delivery is a flat Rs. 500 per order. Karachi orders usually arrive in 1 to 2 working days, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other major cities in 2 to 4, and smaller towns within about 7. Unused stones can come back within 7 days under our return policy.