A 16.55 carat lajward suits the buyer who wants a blue stone large enough to be noticed as a pendant, yet light enough to wear on a chain all day. This one is a royal blue lapis lazuli with golden pyrite showing through the colour.

Judging it

With lapis, the depth of blue and the way the gold is spread matter far more than raw size, so judge the stone by its face rather than by the carat figure alone. Its rate per carat is in line with the rest of our lapis.

At 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale it is a gentle stone: fine for a pendant, and for a ring only if you accept the odd scratch.

Ask before you order

Lapis is sometimes dyed or waxed in the trade to even out its blue, and the surface rarely gives that away. Message us on WhatsApp quoting GSN-LL-24 and we will share what we know about this exact piece. Independent lab testing is your choice.

You can compare it with others in our lapis lazuli range.

Wipe it with a soft damp cloth and store it in a pouch of its own.

Check it at your door before paying. Karachi orders usually come within 1 to 2 working days and the rest of Pakistan within 2 to 4, with 7 days to return it unused. Before you choose, read our lapis lazuli guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural lapis lazuli, known in Urdu as Lajward, with a weight of 16.55 Carat. Its price is Rs. 6,230 — roughly Rs. 376 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GSN-LL-24 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 lapis lazuli rates 5 to 6. 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 lapis lazuli 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 lapis lazuli 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): Lapis lazuli (lajward) is sometimes dyed or waxed to even out its blue. 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.