A 3.75 carat precious opal cabochon — 4.12 ratti — at Rs. 12,380, about Rs. 3,301 per carat. Play-of-colour covers 9% of the face, the highest share in this group.

Solid, doublet or triplet — the question that costs opal buyers money

This is the single most useful thing to understand before buying any opal, and it has nothing to do with colour.

A solid opal is one piece of opal all the way through. A doublet is a thin slice of opal glued to a dark backing, usually ironstone or black glass, which makes pale material look like expensive dark-body opal. A triplet adds a clear quartz or glass cap on top. Face-up, all three can look alike. In value they are not remotely alike: a doublet or triplet is worth a small fraction of a solid stone of the same apparent size, and water can eventually get between the glued layers and cloud it.

This stone is solid. You can check that yourself when it arrives: look at it edge-on from the side. A solid opal shows natural variation through its whole depth. A doublet shows a straight, suspiciously flat join line where the glue sits, and a triplet shows two.

The body and the colour

Body tone measures 199 out of 255 — a light, white body, with no dark regions. It was previously listed as a black fire opal; it is neither black opal nor fire opal, and describing it correctly costs nothing since a solid white precious opal with this much play-of-colour needs no help.

Care

Opal is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and contains water. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no sudden heat. Soft damp cloth only, and store it away from harder stones.

Treatment has not been tested on this piece, which we record rather than calling it untreated. No documented origin is held for it. Dimensions and clarity are not recorded yet; ask and we will measure.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural opal with a weight of 3.75 Carat. Its price is Rs. 12,380 — roughly Rs. 3,301 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000725 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.

On the Mohs scale opal rates 5.5 to 6.5. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy 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 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.