For opal, 3.65 carats is a comfortable middle size. It is large enough to carry colour you can actually see from a normal conversational distance, yet small enough not to feel heavy as a pendant. A stone like this is also workable in a ring, with the usual care that opal needs, since its hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.

This one is a natural Ethiopian fire opal, SKU GS-000711, priced at Rs. 9,000 or about Rs. 2,466 per carat. That is a gentle rate, so it suits buyers who want a real opal without a large outlay.

What to look for in any opal

Judge the brightness of the colour first, then how evenly it shows as you rotate the stone. Check for cracks and for dull, chalky areas. Ask whether the piece is solid, because doublets and triplets exist, and ask about smoke or sugar treatment, which does occur in the trade even though most solid opal is sold as mined. We sell solid natural opal and are happy to share what we know about this one.

Take a look at the wider opal selection to compare sizes.

Order with Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan: open the parcel, check the stone, then pay. If it is not right for you, you have 7 days to return it. Before you choose, read our gemstone buying guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ethiopian opal with a weight of 3.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 9,000 — roughly Rs. 2,466 for each carat. Origin: Ethiopia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000711 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 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.