A 21.80 carat hematite is for someone who wants a big, heavy-looking stone without paying gemstone prices. It fits a man's wide silver ring or a statement pendant, and it is far too large to fade into the background on a finger. If your hands are slim, a lighter piece from the hematite category may sit better.

Size and hardness

Hematite, called hadeed in Urdu, is a common mineral, which is why a stone this large stays affordable: your money goes into real size. Its Mohs hardness is 5.5 to 6.5. That is enough for a ring in a closed bezel, but careless storage will show up as fine scratches, so give it its own pouch.

What to ask before ordering

Hematite is normally sold as it comes from the ground, yet a magnetic, man-made imitation called hematine is easy to find in the market. Message us on WhatsApp quoting AG-HE-0009 and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone. If you would like an independent lab test, that is your choice to make.

You do not pay a rupee until the stone is in your hand: open the parcel in front of the rider, check it, then pay in cash. Karachi orders usually arrive in 1 to 2 working days and the rest of Pakistan in 2 to 4, and if it is not what you expected you have 7 days to return it unused. Read our hematite guide before you decide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural hematite with a weight of 21.8 Carat. Its price is Rs. 3,750 — roughly Rs. 172 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-HE-0009 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.

Above twelve carats you are into collector territory. Pieces this heavy are usually set as pendants or kept loose, and they are prized for the size of rough they came from. If you do set it, choose a bezel or a heavy claw to protect the edges.

On the Mohs scale hematite rates 5.5 to 6.5. That makes it soft for a gemstone, better suited to pendants, earrings and rings for special occasions than to a daily ring. Keep it away from perfume, cleaning products, steam and ultrasonic cleaners, and polish it with a dry, soft cloth after wear.

Whoever you buy hematite 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 hematite 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): Natural hematite is usually untreated (beware magnetic "hematine", a man-made imitation). 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.