Large enough to be seen without being heavy to wear: that is a 3.20 carat ruby, and this one is red and comes from Africa.

Hardness decides how a ruby lives on your hand, and this one rates 9 on the Mohs scale. Among the stones most people know only diamond is harder, so dust and ordinary friction will not mark it. For a ring worn every day, the danger is a sharp knock on an edge, so a setting with some depth or a bezel is worth asking for. A pendant is gentler still.

As with most ruby, heating is the norm, so ask us what we know about this stone. Message us on WhatsApp with reference AG-000530. We do not list glass-filled stones as natural ruby.

Cleaning and storage

Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush are all it needs. Keep it in a pouch apart from other stones, so harder pieces cannot rub against the facets.

More rubies are in our yaqoot range, and the gemstone care guide covers storage.

Cash on Delivery lets you see before you pay. Most Karachi orders land in 1–2 working days and the rest of Pakistan in 2–4; if the stone is not right, send it back unused within 7 days.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ruby, known in Urdu as Yaqoot, with a weight of 3.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,750 — roughly Rs. 3,047 for each carat. Origin: Africa. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000530 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 ruby 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 ruby 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 ruby 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 ruby (yaqoot) is heated, and lower grades may be glass-filled; we do not sell glass-filled ruby as natural ruby. 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.