Opal is the hardest gem on this site to price, and the reason is simple: there is no single number. Across our Australian opal listings the rate runs from under Rs. 800 to over Rs. 9,500 per carat — a twelve-fold spread in the same gem from the same country. This stone sits in the middle, which makes it a useful place to explain what you are actually paying for.

This stone's numbers

3.50 carats, which is 3.85 ratti. Shape: oval. Origin: Australia. Rs. 7,880, about Rs. 2,251 per carat, reference GS-000735.

What moves an opal's price

1. Play-of-colour — brightness first. This is the whole gem. A stone whose colours flash vividly across the room is worth many times one whose colours only wake up under a torch. Nothing else comes close in importance.
2. Which colours appear. Red and orange flashes are the scarcest and dearest; green and blue are the most common. A stone showing red across the full face commands a large premium.
3. Body tone. The background the colour sits against, graded from dark to light. Darker backgrounds make colour look stronger, which is why darker opal costs more.
4. Pattern. Broad flashes and large defined patches beat fine scattered pinfire for value.
5. Size, last. Opal is sold by the carat but a bright small stone easily outprices a dull large one — the opposite of how most people shop.

What a fair quote looks like

For solid Australian opal with honest play-of-colour, roughly Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 9,000 per carat is a realistic range in Pakistan, and where a particular stone lands depends almost entirely on brightness. Far below that, you should ask whether you are being offered a doublet, a triplet or a synthetic. Our Australian opal price guide goes through it stone by stone, and the general price guide covers the other gems.

Solid, doublet or triplet

The question that catches most first-time buyers. A solid opal is one piece of stone. A doublet is a thin slice of opal glued to a dark backing; a triplet adds a clear cap on top. Both look convincing face-up and are worth a fraction of a solid stone. The giveaway is the side profile: look at the stone edge-on for a straight glue line where the layers meet. We sell solid natural opal, and the specification on every listing says so. Our guide to spotting fake opal shows what to look for.

Is it treated?

Solid opal is usually untreated, though some material is smoke- or sugar-treated to darken the background. We have not had this particular stone tested, so our sheet says "treatment not tested" rather than claiming it is untreated. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged and a certificate of authenticity comes on request.

How tough is it?

This is where opal needs honesty. At 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale it is the softest gem we sell — softer than quartz, which means ordinary dust can scratch it over time. It also contains water, so sudden heat or very dry air can cause fine surface cracks called crazing. None of that makes it unwearable; it makes it a stone for a protective setting and a little care.

Caring for it

Wipe with a soft damp cloth. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Keep it away from heat and direct sun for long periods. Take the ring off for washing up and heavy work. Store it away from harder stones so nothing scratches the surface.

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. Measurements have not been recorded; message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it. More in the Australian opal collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 3.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 17,500 — roughly Rs. 5,000 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000735 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.