Opal Price in Pakistan: Play-of-Colour, Type and Weight

Opal price follows the fire you can see. A stone whose flashes are bright, large and spread across the whole face is worth far more than one with a faint shimmer at the edge, even at the same weight. After that, the type of opal, the darkness of its body, the pattern of the flashes and whether the stone is solid or assembled decide where it sits.

Opal is one of the most asked-for stones in Pakistan, often on an astrologer's advice for Venus or as an October birthstone, and it is also one of the easiest to overpay for. This guide explains each price factor, how per-carat and per-ratti quotes work, and how to compare offers. GemStore's own opal prices are in the table below, refreshed each month from our listings.

GemStore opal prices

The table is built from the opals we currently list. Each stone is photographed alone and priced on its own, so the table shows a real spread: the lowest, typical and highest price per stone, then per carat and per ratti.

Opal · October 2026 edition · PKR, from GemStore listings. 1 ratti = 0.91 carat.

Origin	Weights	Stones	Per carat	Per ratti
Australia	1.8 – 11.3 ct	34	Rs 750 – Rs 9,600	Rs 700 – Rs 8,700
Ethiopia	1.5 – 25.7 ct	22	Rs 1,200 – Rs 8,300	Rs 1,100 – Rs 7,600
Other / origin not stated	1.0 – 6.2 ct	31	Rs 1,750 – Rs 7,600	Rs 1,600 – Rs 6,900

Opal per-carat figures move more than most stones, because a small stone with strong fire can outprice a larger stone with weak fire. Use the table to place a quote, then check the stone itself. The monthly gemstone price guide compares opal with other stones.

The type of opal comes first

"Opal" covers several quite different materials, and their prices are not comparable. Ask which one you are being offered before anything else.

Ethiopian (Welo) opal

Most precious opal sold in Pakistan is Ethiopian. It usually has a white to light body with bright, multicoloured fire, often called "multi fire". It gives a lot of colour for the money. Many Welo opals are hydrophane: they absorb water and can turn temporarily clear or lose their fire when wet, then recover as they dry. Our planned guide to Ethiopian opal prices covers this type in detail.

Australian opal

Australian opal includes white (light) opal, black opal and boulder opal, where the opal sits in its brown ironstone host. Fine black opal sits at the top of the market. Solid Australian stones generally cost more than Ethiopian stones of similar size and fire. See the planned Australian opal price guide.

Fire opal

Mexican-type fire opal is valued for a transparent orange to red body colour. Some shows play-of-colour, much does not. It is priced on body colour and clarity, so it does not belong in the same comparison as a white multi fire stone.

Common opal

Opal without play-of-colour, such as pink or blue common opal, is a much cheaper material. It is fine for jewellery, but it is not what an astrologer usually means by opal.

What sets the price within a type

Brightness of the fire

The single biggest factor. Fire that is visible from arm's length in ordinary room light is worth far more than fire that only appears under a torch. Dealers grade brightness on a simple scale from faint to brilliant, and every step up raises the price noticeably.

Colour of the fire

Red flashes are the rarest and most valued, then orange, then green and blue. A stone that shows the full range across its face scores higher than one that only flashes green.

Pattern

Broad flashes and rolling bands of colour usually command more than fine pinpoint fire. Named patterns such as harlequin, a mosaic of square patches, are rare and priced accordingly.

Body tone

Against a dark body the same fire looks stronger, which is why black opal costs more than white opal of equal brightness. Among Ethiopian stones, a crystal body that is clear enough to see into, with fire floating inside, is valued above a milky one.

Coverage and direction

How much of the face shows fire, and from which angles. A stone that flashes face-up across most of its surface is worth more than one that only lights up when tilted.

Cut and dome

Opal is usually cut as a cabochon. A good dome shows fire well and is not too thin to set. A flat, thin stone is fragile and cheaper. A very deep back adds weight you pay for without adding any fire.

Stability and cracks

Opal holds water. Some stones dry out and develop fine surface cracks, called crazing. A crazed stone has lost most of its value. Ethiopian opal can also change in appearance when wet. Ask whether a stone has been kept for some time without crazing, and avoid any opal with visible cracks.

Solid, doublet or triplet?

Thin slices of opal glued to a dark backing are called doublets. With a clear quartz or glass cap on top they are triplets. Both are legitimate products when declared, and both cost far less than a solid stone of the same face size. The problem is when they are sold as solid. Look at the side of the stone with a loupe: a straight join line, a perfectly flat black base or a glassy dome over the fire all point to an assembled stone. Our planned opal real or fake guide covers this and synthetic opal.

Per carat and per ratti

Opal is quoted per stone, per carat and per ratti in Pakistan, and the ratti question catches people out.

• 1 carat is 0.2 grams.
• The gemstone ratti used in Pakistan is 0.91 carat, about 0.182 grams.
• The jeweller's sunari ratti is about 0.1215 grams, roughly 0.61 carat.

Because opal is light for its size, a stone looks larger than a sapphire of the same weight. That is good news for the eye, but it also means per-carat figures can look high for stones that are physically quite big. Convert every quote to carats using the carat to ratti converter, then multiply out to a total before you compare.

If an astrologer has named a weight, such as five or six ratti, ask which ratti they intend. The two scales give very different stone sizes.

How to compare opal quotes

1. Same type? Ethiopian, Australian, fire or common opal should not be compared with each other.
2. Solid? Ask in writing whether the stone is solid natural opal, not a doublet, triplet or synthetic.
3. Video in normal light. Photographs under strong spotlights flatter opal. A short video turning the stone in room light shows the real fire.
4. Exact weight and which ratti. Convert to carats.
5. Any crazing or cracks? Ask for a close photograph of the surface.
6. Treatment. Some opal is smoked or dyed to darken the body. That should be declared and priced lower.
7. Return terms. Opal is a stone you want to see in person. A return window and Cash on Delivery with inspection protect you.

Budget tiers by filter

• Under 5,000 rupees: small Ethiopian stones with modest fire, or common opal. Good for a first opal or a pendant.
• 5,000 to 20,000 rupees: the busiest band for Ethiopian multi fire stones in ring sizes. Compare brightness carefully here, because it is where quality differs most for little difference in price.
• 20,000 to 50,000 rupees: larger or brighter Ethiopian stones, crystal bodies, and entry-level solid Australian opal.
• Over 50,000 rupees: fine Australian material and exceptional Ethiopian stones. A certificate is worth arranging at this level.

Two of our current stones show the range: the 1.50 carat Ethiopian opal and the 1.90 carat Ethiopian opal. Look at how their fire compares, then check their positions in the table.

Calibrated sizes, freeform stones and what they cost

Opal is cut to save as much fire as possible, so many stones come out in freeform shapes and odd millimetre sizes. Calibrated ovals in standard ring sizes, such as 10 by 8 or 12 by 10 millimetres, lose more rough in cutting and often cost a little more per carat for the same fire. They are also easier and cheaper to set, because a jeweller can use a ready-made mount. A freeform stone can be good value if you are happy to have a setting made around it.

Matched pairs for earrings cost more than two single stones of similar quality, because the cutter has to find two pieces with the same body tone and fire. If you want a pair, ask for both stones in one video so you can see whether they really match.

Very large opals are not always worth proportionally more. A big Ethiopian stone with patchy fire may cost less per carat than a small one with bright fire across the whole face. Judge the fire first and treat size as the second question.

Real costs after you buy

Opal is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, softer than quartz, so household dust can scratch it over time. A ring needs a bezel or a closed setting with a raised rim, and a pendant or earrings are kinder to the stone. Keep it away from heat, strong sun and sudden temperature changes, and clean it with a damp soft cloth only. Never put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. These habits protect the price you paid. Our guide on how to wear opal covers setting and finger customs, and wearing opal covers its place in tradition.

Buying opal from GemStore

Every stone in our opal collection is natural, photographed on its own and priced on its own, with known treatments disclosed. A certificate is available on request and independent lab testing can be arranged. You can pay Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan and open the parcel to check the fire before paying the rider, with 7-day returns. For a short video of a stone in room light, message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888.

Shop the stones: opal.