Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush: that is all the cleaning this 2.85 carat sapphire needs. Dry it with a clean cloth and store it separately, because sapphire scratches softer stones. Be cautious with ultrasonic cleaners, since heated sapphire can carry tiny fractures.

The first thing to tell any buyer about sapphire is its hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale, the ceiling for coloured stones you will normally meet. For a ring worn day in and day out, that matters more than almost anything else. This stone will take the daily friction that scuffs softer gems, though a hard impact can still damage it, so a protective setting is wise.

The stone itself is blue, 2.85 carats, with Kashmir named as its origin. The reference is AG-000819. Sapphire is commonly heated, so please ask us what we know about it. If origin matters to you, independent lab testing is your choice.

In Vedic astrology neelam is linked with Saturn, and an astrologer's advice is customary before wearing one.

Our care guide covers storage more fully, and more stones are listed in the sapphire collection.

Pay only after opening the parcel. Karachi usually 1–2 working days, the rest of Pakistan 2–4, and 7 days to return.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sapphire, known in Urdu as Neelam, with a weight of 2.85 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,380 — roughly Rs. 3,291 for each carat. Origin: Kashmir. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000819 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale sapphire rates 9. Few materials will scratch it, so it copes well with everyday ring wear. A soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush keeps it bright; skip the ultrasonic cleaner if inclusions reach the surface.

Whoever you buy sapphire from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every sapphire for those three points before it is listed, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. No lab report yet; independent testing welcome. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Most sapphire on the market is heated to improve colour and clarity; unheated stones exist and cost more. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.