Natural Australian Opal in Pakistan

The main types of Australian opal

Black opal

A dark grey to black body that makes the play of colour look intense. Black opal is the rarest and most valued type, with Lightning Ridge in New South Wales its best-known field.

Boulder opal

Thin seams of opal formed inside ironstone in Queensland, cut with the brown host rock left on the back. The ironstone is part of the natural stone, so boulder opal is solid opal, not a doublet, and every piece has its own shape.

White (light) opal

A milky white to light grey body with softer, pastel flashes. It is the most common Australian type and a good everyday choice.

Crystal opal

A transparent to semi-transparent body that lets colour glow from deep inside the stone.

Doublets and triplets: always disclosed

Because good opal often forms in very thin seams, some Australian opal is cut as an assembled stone.

• A doublet is a thin slice of natural opal glued to a dark backing, often black glass, ironstone or potch.
• A triplet adds a clear dome of quartz or glass on top to protect the slice.

Both contain real opal, but they are worth much less than solid opal and must not soak in water, since the glue can fail. Any assembled stone we list is labelled as a doublet or triplet in its title. To check a stone yourself, look at the side for a straight, even join line; a solid opal or boulder opal shows a natural, uneven back.

What sets the price

Brightness of colour comes first, followed by the colours present (red is rarest), the pattern, the darkness of the body, and finally size and soundness. A dark body with bright red flashes is the top of the market. Each listing's per-carat rate is its price divided by its weight; to shop within a budget, start from our shop page.

Wearing Australian opal

Most Australian opal is non-hydrophane and stable, so it handles daily life better than many Ethiopian stones. It is still soft at about 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so a bezel setting suits a ring, and it should be kept away from heat and knocks. Opal is an October birthstone and is traditionally linked with Venus in South Asian astrology; these are beliefs, not promised effects.

Related stones

For a different kind of colour play, see labradorite or moonstone. Every order is sent by insured, tracked courier, with Cash on Delivery and inspection before payment, and 7-day returns. See our authenticity checks.