Buying opal loose rather than ready-set is the better way round, and with opal there is a specific reason beyond the usual ones: you get to inspect the stone for the faults that matter before anyone hides its edges under metal.

The stone

7.30 carats, which is 8.02 ratti. Rs. 18,250, about Rs. 2,500 per carat, reference GS-000713. Recorded shape: oval. Origin: Ethiopia. Supplied unset, exactly as photographed.

What to inspect on a loose opal

1. Crazing. Fine surface cracks, like a dried riverbed, that appear in material which has lost moisture. Turn the stone under a strong light and look across the dome, not through it. This is the fault that matters most and the one a bezel hides best.
2. The girdle. Chips and nicks around the rim. Easy to see loose, impossible once set.
3. Play of colour from several angles. Tilt it. Colour that only appears from one direction is worth much less than colour that follows the stone around.
4. Whether the colour is in the stone. A flat film that does not move as you tilt means a doublet or a backing, not solid opal.
5. The back. On a loose stone you can see it. A natural, slightly irregular back is normal; a perfectly flat glued-looking joint is not.

What this one looks like

Measured from the photograph, the body reads at a brightness of 198 out of 255 with play of colour across about 10% of the face, greens leading into warm oranges. At under Rs. 1,600 per carat it is among the better-value stones we list, because the rate falls as opals get larger.

The water question

Ethiopian opal is usually hydrophane and will absorb water, after which it can turn clear or cloudy and lose its play of colour temporarily. It returns as the stone dries — slowly, at room temperature, never with heat. Worth knowing before you hand it to a setter, too: tell them not to put it in an ultrasonic bath or anywhere near a torch.

Treatment

Not tested, and the specification sheet says so plainly. Smoke treatment darkens a pale body to imitate the scarcer dark-bodied opals; this stone has a bright, light body and shows no sign of it, but we have not run the test and will not pretend otherwise. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged before dispatch.

Care

Opal rates 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Soft dry cloth, protective setting, no ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no hot water, and storage away from harder stones.

More

The opal buying guide covers inspection in more depth, the real or fake guide covers doublets and imitations, and the Ethiopian opal page has the rest of the range.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan by insured, tracked courier, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. Dimensions have not been recorded; message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ethiopian opal with a weight of 7.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 18,250 — roughly Rs. 2,500 for each carat. Origin: Ethiopia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000713 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

Whoever you buy ethiopian opal from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every ethiopian opal for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Solid opal is usually untreated; some opal is smoke- or sugar-treated, and doublets/triplets exist — we sell solid natural opal. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.