For sapphire, 3.29 carats is mid-sized: big enough to take over a ring, small enough to stay comfortable on the finger. Add a deep royal blue, a Ceylon (Sri Lanka) origin and a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, and you have a sound choice for daily wear.

Sapphire prices rise quickly with size, because good colour in larger stones is scarce, so the rate per carat on this stone is well above what many smaller sapphires carry. When you compare, compare like with like: similar weight, similar colour.

What to look for

In blue sapphire, look at how saturated the blue is, whether it stays even from the face to the side, and whether any inclusions are visible. Heat treatment is common in sapphire and widely accepted; what you should ask is what has been done to this stone. Message us on WhatsApp quoting AG-00021 and we will tell you what we know. An independent lab test is your choice.

Vedic astrology links neelam with Saturn, which is a matter of belief. Compare it with others in the sapphire collection.

It ships Cash on Delivery, so you look at it in daylight before paying; Karachi usually takes 1–2 working days, the rest of Pakistan 2–4, and returns are accepted for 7 days. Read our sapphire guide first.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sapphire, known in Urdu as Neelam, with a weight of 3.29 Carat. Its price is Rs. 93,750 — roughly Rs. 28,495 for each carat. Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-00021 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.