Natural Navratan Stone in Pakistan

Built to order, with some stones still being sourced

There is no Navratan set listed yet, and diamond is not part of our range at present. We are sourcing the missing stones, and most of the others are already available as natural loose stones in our collections. Message us on WhatsApp with your budget, the weights your astrologer or family has suggested, and whether the set is for a ring, pendant or bracelet, and we will send photographs of matching stones for you to approve. You can also email hello@authenticgems.pk or use our contact page.

What Navratan means

The word is Sanskrit: nava, nine, and ratna, gem. In Vedic astrology each of the nine stones belongs to one of the Navagraha, the nine celestial bodies: the Sun, the Moon, five planets, and the two lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu. Wearing all nine together is traditionally believed to balance their influences. The set is worn as a ring, pendant, bracelet or armband, usually in gold. The same word was used for the nine celebrated courtiers of the Mughal emperor Akbar. For background, see Navagraha stones: the nine planetary gemstones.

The nine stones

On diamond: we do not stock it. In some practice, colourless white sapphire or zircon is used as a traditional substitute, so ask your astrologer before choosing. Gomed is hessonite, a variety of garnet, and when you ask us for Gomed we will offer hessonite only.

The traditional layout

One widely followed arrangement puts ruby, the Sun, in the centre. Around it, starting at the top and going clockwise, sit diamond, pearl, red coral, hessonite, blue sapphire, cat's eye, yellow sapphire and emerald. In a straight line, such as a bracelet, ruby usually goes in the middle. Layouts differ between families and texts, so follow the one your family or astrologer uses. These are traditions, not rules with promised results.

Sizes and weights in ratti

Astrologers often give weights in ratti. The standard gemstone ratti in Pakistan is 0.91 carat, while the jeweller's sunari ratti is smaller, about 0.61 carat, so always check which one is meant. Our carat to ratti converter does the sums for you. The centre ruby is often slightly larger than the rest, and the outer eight are usually chosen close in size so the set looks balanced.

Real Navratan or a fake set?

Many cheap sets in the market use imitations for some or all of the stones. The usual substitutes are:

• synthetic or glass-filled ruby, and synthetic blue and yellow sapphire;
• dyed or reconstituted coral, and plastic or shell beads instead of pearl;
• cubic zirconia instead of diamond;
• glass instead of emerald and hessonite;
• fibre-optic glass, sold as "cat's eye glass", instead of Lehsunia.

Ask for the identity and weight of every stone in writing. With loose stones you can look at each one before it is set, and you are welcome to have any of them tested independently. See checking a gemstone before you buy and natural vs synthetic gemstones.

Treatments to know about

Each stone has its own usual treatments. Ruby and sapphire are commonly heated, emerald is usually oiled, coral may be waxed or dyed, and pearls are often bleached or polished. Hessonite and cat's eye are frequently untreated. We disclose any known treatment on the stones we offer.

What decides the cost of a set

The total depends mostly on the ruby, the two sapphires, the emerald and the diamond or its substitute, since these vary most in price. For each stone, colour, clarity, size and treatment matter just as they would for a single stone. A good set is also consistent: nine stones of similar quality and balanced size look better than one fine stone among weak ones. The metal and setting add their own cost. See our gemstone price guide for each stone.

Care

A Navratan mixes hard and soft stones. Pearl and coral are soft and sensitive to perfume, sweat and chemicals, so put the piece on after perfume and take it off for washing. Clean it only with a soft, damp cloth, never in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Have the prongs checked now and then, since nine small stones mean nine chances for one to work loose. Read how to care for gemstones.

Navratan in tradition

In Vedic astrology Navratan is traditionally worn to harmonise all nine planetary influences at once, and some astrologers prefer it for people unsure which single stone suits them. Practice varies on metal, finger, day and ritual. These are beliefs and customs, not promised outcomes; speak to an astrologer or scholar you trust. To choose a single stone instead, see which gemstone to wear.

Every loose stone you approve is sent on Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan: you open the parcel and check the stones in front of the rider before paying, and you can return unused stones within 7 days. Orders are dispatched within 1 working day of confirmation by insured, tracked courier for a flat Rs. 500 per order, usually reaching Karachi in 1 to 2 working days, Lahore, Islamabad and other major cities in 2 to 4, and smaller towns within about 7.