Think about the hand first. At 16.60 carats this Sulemani aqeeq is bigger than what most buyers choose, since the usual sweet spot is somewhere between eight and twelve carats. On a broad gents' ring or as a bold pendant it looks right at home; on a slim finger it may feel like more stone than you wanted.

It is a natural Sulemani agate with a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. A larger stone also has more exposed edge, so a bezel that wraps around the rim is a sensible choice over open prongs.

What makes one Sulemani better than another? Clean, unbroken bands, a polish without dull patches, and no cracks running in from the edge. It also helps to know that banding in this family is sometimes dyed to sharpen it, and a good seller will tell you what they know. For this stone, message us on WhatsApp quoting AG-SU-0017.

If you would rather compare it with something smaller, browse Sulemani agate.

You pay Cash on Delivery after opening the box and checking the stone yourself. Karachi orders typically land in 1 to 2 working days, Lahore, Islamabad and other big cities in 2 to 4, and you can send it back within 7 days if it is unused. Read our sulemani agate guide before you choose.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 16.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 2,490 — roughly Rs. 150 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-SU-0017 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 sulemani agate rates 6.5 to 7. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy sulemani agate 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 sulemani agate 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): Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to sharpen its banding. 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.