White opal is the opal most people picture: a milky, light-coloured stone with flashes of colour moving across it as you tilt it. It is the classic Australian material, and it is what the great majority of opal sold anywhere in the world actually is.

The stone

4.10 carats, which is 4.51 ratti. Shape: oval cabochon. Origin: Australia. Rs. 20,500, about Rs. 5,000 per carat, reference GS-000732.

What "white opal" means

It describes the body tone — the background colour the play-of-colour sits against — not the colours themselves. Opal body tone runs on a scale from very dark through to very light, and white opal sits at the light end. The flashes you see on this stone are mostly green with orange, which is the common and characteristic combination for light Australian material.

Because a pale background reflects light back, the colour in white opal reads as soft and milky rather than electric. Stones with darker backgrounds show the same colours more vividly, which is why they cost more. Neither is better made or more natural — they are different material from different fields, and they suit different tastes.

Judging a white opal

• Brightness before everything. Hold it at arm's length in daylight. Do the colours announce themselves, or do you have to hunt for them? That single question decides most of the price.
• Coverage. Colour across the whole face is worth far more than a bright patch at one end with dead ground around it.
• Which colours. Green and blue are common; orange adds value; red is the scarcest. This stone shows green with orange.
• Movement. Tilt it. Good opal keeps producing colour through a wide range of angles rather than flashing once and going quiet.
• The dome. A smooth, even cabochon with no flat spot. Opal is cut as a cabochon rather than faceted because the colour comes from within, not from reflections off facets.

Is it solid opal?

Yes — we sell solid natural opal, not doublets or triplets. A doublet is a thin slice glued to a dark backing and a triplet adds a clear cap; both are worth a fraction of a solid stone and both reveal themselves in the side profile as a straight glue line. Look at any opal edge-on before you buy. Our real versus fake opal guide covers this and the synthetic material that also circulates.

Treatment

Solid opal is usually untreated, although some is smoke- or sugar-treated to darken the background — a treatment aimed at making light opal look like dark opal. We have not had this stone tested, so the specification says "treatment not tested" rather than claiming it is untreated. Testing can be arranged on request.

Setting and care

Opal is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, the softest gem we sell, and it contains water. Ask for a bezel rather than claws — the rim protects the edge — and keep the setting low. Clean with a soft damp cloth only: never ultrasonic, never steam. Avoid long spells in direct sun or very dry heat, which can craze the surface. Full routine in our Australian opal buying guide.

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 — WhatsApp +92 308 887 3888.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 4.1 Carat. Its price is Rs. 20,500 — roughly Rs. 5,000 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000732 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.