At this rate a report is worth having, and with opal a laboratory answers questions no amount of looking can settle on its own. Synthetic opal is convincing to the naked eye. So is a well-made triplet. Both are sold as opal in markets everywhere, and the difference in value runs to multiples.

The stone

2.20 carats, which is 2.42 ratti. Shape: oval cabochon. Origin: Australia. Rs. 11,000, about Rs. 5,000 per carat, reference GS-000604.

What a laboratory can settle

• Natural or synthetic. Laboratory-grown opal has been made since the 1970s and looks the part. Under magnification it shows a regular columnar or "lizard skin" structure that natural opal does not. This is the line that most justifies the fee.
• Solid, doublet or triplet. You can often tell yourself from the side profile, but a report puts it in writing — useful for insurance and for resale.
• Treatment. Whether smoke or sugar treatment has been used to darken the background. Our own sheet reads "treatment not tested", so this is the route to a definite answer.
• Weight and measurements. Independently taken.

Some laboratories will also record body tone and brightness on the standard scales, which is as close as opal gets to a quality grade. What no report does is tell you the stone is worth the money — with opal, that is a judgement your own eyes make.

Getting the report

1. Before dispatch. Message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will send the stone to an independent laboratory and forward the report. It adds time, and we will tell you how much before you commit.
2. After delivery, yourself. Often better, because the result is unarguably yours. You pay the rider only once the parcel is open, and the seven-day return window runs from delivery, so the stone goes back unused if the result is not what you expected.

Our lab-certified opal page explains the process end to end, and the authenticity page covers how stones are inspected before listing. Our own certificate of authenticity is also available on request — it is our statement rather than a third party's, and we say so plainly.

The check you can do in two seconds

Look at the stone edge-on. A solid opal varies naturally through its depth; a doublet or triplet shows a straight, flat join. It is the single most useful habit in buying opal, and it costs nothing. More in our real versus fake opal guide.

Care

Opal is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and holds water in its structure. Soft damp cloth only, never ultrasonic or steam cleaning, and keep it away from prolonged direct sun and very dry heat, which can craze the surface. A bezel setting protects the edge better than claws.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery, seven days to return it unused. Measurements on request. More in the Australian opal collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 2.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,000 — roughly Rs. 5,000 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000604 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

Whoever you buy australian 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 australian 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.