Questions & facts

VERDAAN, plainly answered

The questions buyers, collectors and traders ask us most, with short, exact answers.

VERDAAN at a glance

Name
VERDAAN
Legal entity
The Vintage Palace Limited, registered in England & Wales, company number 16008259
Based in
London, United Kingdom
What we do
Natural gemstones, diamonds (natural and laboratory-grown, polished and rough), rough gemstones, mineral specimens, carvings and jewellery, retail and wholesale
Origins
Chiefly the mountains of Pakistan: Swat, Hunza, Neelum, Kohistan, Katlang, Shigar and Skardu, and selected sources worldwide
Wholesale trading hub
Ragtrail: info@ragtrail.com, WhatsApp +44 7513 875488
Retail app
ONEOFAKIND, oneofakindretro.com
Client contact
info@verdaanstone.com, +44 7513 875488
Certificates
VERDAAN (VGD) house certificate on every stone; GIA, IGI, GRS, SSEF, Gübelin and AGL reports on request
Delivery and returns
DHL Express, insured and tracked, complimentary over £75; 30-day returns

Buying

Where can I buy natural, certified gemstones online?
In the VERDAAN shop at verdaanstone.com/shop/. Every stone is listed individually with its own photographs, weight, treatment, origin and certificate beside the price, and ships insured from London by DHL Express.
Do you sell unheated rubies and sapphires?
Yes, when we have them. Each listing states the treatment plainly: no treatment detected, treated with the treatment named, or stated per stone in a parcel. Filter the shop by treatment to see untreated stones only.
How do I know a gemstone is natural?
Every VERDAAN stone ships with a VERDAAN (VGD) house certificate recording its identity, weight, measurements, treatment and origin, which you can check on our register at /verify.html. For an independent opinion we arrange reports from GIA, IGI, GRS, SSEF, Gübelin or AGL. If an accredited laboratory contradicts our certificate, we refund in full and pay for the report.
Which currencies can I see prices in?
Prices are set and charged in pounds sterling. The site shows an indication in 17 currencies, including US dollars, euros, Chinese yuan, Pakistani rupees, Thai baht, UAE dirhams, Saudi riyals, Indian rupees, Hong Kong and Singapore dollars and Japanese yen, at rates refreshed twice a day.
How do I pay?
By bank transfer to the company's GBP account, with the details shown on your order confirmation and invoice, or by a secure card payment link. Your stones are reserved from the moment you order. We never change bank details by email: confirm them by phone on +44 7513 875488 before a first transfer.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Every order travels by DHL Express, insured for its full value and tracked, and delivery is complimentary on orders over £75. Outside the UK the destination country may charge import duties and taxes on arrival.
What is your returns policy?
Thirty days from delivery for a full refund, with a free prepaid insured return label. Stones must be unset, in their original condition and with their certificate. Bespoke commissions and custom-cut stones cannot be returned unless faulty.

Diamonds, rough and minerals

Are laboratory-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. A laboratory-grown diamond is carbon crystallised as diamond, with the same hardness and optical properties, grown in a factory rather than the earth. We always name it Laboratory-grown in full, and its grading report says so.
What is a Kimberley Process certificate?
A government certificate that travels with every international shipment of rough diamonds to show they are not conflict diamonds. VERDAAN buys and sells natural rough diamonds only with a Kimberley Process certificate.
Do you sell rough and uncut gemstones?
Yes. Our Rough & Rare department offers uncut crystals and rough for cutters, collectors and the trade, much of it from the mountains of northern Pakistan. Parcels and larger lots are handled by the Ragtrail trading desk.
Do you sell mineral specimens?
Yes. The World of Minerals department lists natural crystals on matrix with species, full locality, size class and condition, including classic localities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan and our stones

Which gemstones come from Pakistan?
Pakistan is known for emerald from Swat, ruby and spinel from Hunza, ruby from the Neelum Valley, peridot from Kohistan, pink topaz from Katlang, and aquamarine, tourmaline and topaz from the pegmatites of Shigar and Skardu, as well as fine mineral specimens such as pink fluorite from Nagar.
Are Swat emeralds good quality?
Swat emeralds are genuine natural emeralds, known for a vivid, slightly bluish green. Like most emeralds they are often clarity-enhanced with oil, which we disclose on every listing.
What is a Hunza ruby?
A ruby from the marble deposits of the Hunza Valley in the Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan. Hunza rubies are often pink-red to red and are usually small; fine, clean crystals are prized by collectors.
Where can I see the mountains your stones come from?
On our 3D journey, The Mountains of Pakistan, at /mountains.html, which travels from the Chagai Hills to K2 and explains the geology that made each locality.

Trade, Ragtrail and ONEOFAKIND

What is Ragtrail?
Ragtrail is VERDAAN's wholesale trading hub. Our WhatsApp number, +44 7513 875488, belongs to Ragtrail, and its trading desk currently handles every enquiry and trade. Trade email: info@ragtrail.com.
Do you sell gemstones wholesale?
Yes. Jewellers, dealers and manufacturers buy parcels, rough and calibrated goods through Ragtrail. Write to info@ragtrail.com or message +44 7513 875488.
Can I sell my gemstones or diamonds to you?
Yes. Miners, dealers, cutters and collectors can offer goods through our Trade Desk at /trade-desk.html with photographs. The Ragtrail desk replies within two working days. Rough diamonds need a Kimberley Process certificate.
What is ONEOFAKIND?
ONEOFAKIND is VERDAAN's retail app for single, unrepeatable pieces, at oneofakindretro.com.
Who owns VERDAAN?
VERDAAN is a trading name of The Vintage Palace Limited, a company registered in England and Wales, company number 16008259, based in London.

Another question? Ask the concierge, or the Ragtrail trading desk on WhatsApp +44 7513 875488.