The journal
Short, practical guides written for people buying a stone in Pakistan, whether it is your first or your fiftieth.
Ratti, Carat and Gram: Weighing Gemstones the Pakistani Way
Ask for a Neelam in any Pakistani market and the first number you hear is in ratti, so it pays to know exactly what that ratti means.
5 min read
Choosing a Neelam: A Clear Guide to Buying Blue Sapphire
A good Neelam is chosen with the eyes first and the paperwork second, and this guide shows you what your eyes should be looking for.
5 min read
Spotting Fake Gemstones at Home: Simple Checks and Their Limits
A magnifier, a glass of salty water and a little patience will catch many crude fakes, but not all of them, and knowing the difference protects you.
5 min read
Ring or Pendant? Matching a Gemstone to How You Wear It
A ring takes knocks all day while a pendant mostly sits still, so the right choice depends as much on the stone's toughness as on your taste.
4 min read
Birthstones by Month, With English and Urdu Names
A birthstone makes an easy, personal gift, and most of the twelve have familiar Urdu names that many people already know.
4 min read
Caring for Soft Stones: Pearl, Coral, Opal, Turquoise, Malachite and Amber
Soft stones are not fragile in the way glass is, but they do ask for a few small habits that keep them bright for a lifetime.
4 min read
Australian vs Ethiopian Opal: How They Differ and How to Care for Each
Both are natural opal with real play-of-colour, but they form differently, behave differently and cost differently, and buyers should know which one they are holding.
4 min read
Aqeeq in Every Colour: Carnelian, Black, Sulemani, Moss and More
Aqeeq is one stone family in many colours, and knowing which colours grow naturally and which are dyed makes you a far sharper buyer.
5 min read
Cash on Delivery at Real Gems: How Ordering Works
You choose a stone online, a rider brings it to your door, and you pay in cash when it arrives, with nothing paid in advance.
5 min read
Pukhraj Explained: Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Topaz or Citrine?
In many markets the word Pukhraj covers three quite different stones, and the price gap between them is wide enough that you should know which one you are buying.
4 min read
Red Stones Compared: Ruby, Garnet, Coral, Red Agate and Carnelian
Five very different stones share the colour red, and a few simple observations will usually tell you which family you are looking at.
4 min read
What Sets a Gem's Price? Why Two Stones of the Same Weight Differ
Two Neelams of exactly the same weight can differ in price by ten times or more, and the reasons are easier to understand than most sellers make them sound.
5 min read