Gem Buying Guide Secondary Stones

Secondary stones, known as uparatnas in Vedic Astrology, are natural gemstones used as substitutes for primary planetary gems. They offer a more affordable or gentler way to strengthen a planet when a ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond, pearl, red coral, hessonite, or cat’s eye isn’t practical.

This guide explains how to compare secondary stones, evaluate their quality, choose an appropriate size, and understand how color, clarity, cut, treatment, and rarity affect price.

A secondary stone should still be natural, untreated whenever possible, transparent or appropriately lustrous, and carefully selected for Jyotish. Because uparatnas are generally less concentrated than primary gemstones, a larger carat weight may be needed. The correct stone and size will depend on the planet being strengthened and the gemstone’s individual quality.