For a gents' ring with real presence, an 18.10 carat banded agate is a good starting point. This one is a Sulemani agate, the stone most of our customers simply call Sulemani aqeeq, and it is broad enough to be noticed without looking out of place on a man's hand.

What you are paying for

Agate is not a rare mineral, so its value comes from the pattern and the size rather than scarcity. Here you get both: a large face with clear banding. On the Mohs scale it sits at 6.5 to 7, which means it shrugs off daily wear and sits happily in a silver bezel. A heavy fall onto tiles can still chip an edge, so treat it with ordinary sense.

The question worth asking

Sulemani agate is sometimes dyed to deepen its bands, and dyed stones can look more striking than they did when mined. Message us on WhatsApp quoting AG-SU-0019 and we will share what we know about this specific piece. If you want something on paper, independent lab testing is your option.

Once the parcel is in your hands, look at the bands in daylight and tilt the stone slowly. Even, sharp lines and a smooth polish are what you want to see.

There is no need to pay upfront. Open the box with the rider standing there, check the stone, and only then pay. Karachi deliveries usually take 1 to 2 working days, other cities 2 to 4, and unused stones can be returned within 7 days. Before you decide, read our sulemani agate guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sulemani agate with a weight of 18.1 Carat. Its price is Rs. 4,090 — roughly Rs. 226 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-SU-0019 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.