Silver suits opal better than most metals. The cool grey of the metal sits back and lets the colour do the talking, and silver is soft enough to be worked into a close bezel around a dome without putting the stone under strain. For a gem as soft as opal, that last point is not a detail.

The stone

4.35 carats, which is 4.78 ratti. Rs. 10,880, exactly Rs. 2,501 per carat, reference GS-000722. Recorded shape: oval. Origin: Ethiopia. One piece, as photographed.

What it looks like

Measured from the photograph, the body reads at a brightness of 200 out of 255 — a bright, light background — with play of colour covering about 10% of the face, greens running into warm oranges. At 4.35 carats it fills a ring without dominating the hand.

Getting it set in silver

1. Bezel, always. A continuous rim protects the girdle. Claws concentrate pressure on a stone that rates only 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and that is where chips begin.
2. Set it cold. The stone goes into a finished, polished mount. A torch anywhere near opal risks cracking it outright — this is the single most common way opals are destroyed in the workshop.
3. Keep the dome low. A low profile takes fewer knocks and the ring snags less.
4. Mind the silver polish. Strong dips and pastes can get under the bezel and into a porous stone. Use a dry polishing cloth around the setting instead.

The water question, which matters for a ring

Ethiopian opal is usually hydrophane: it absorbs water. A ring worn through washing, wudu or a shower will take water in, and the stone can go clear or cloudy with its colour faded until it dries. The colour returns — this is not damage — but it does mean an opal ring is one you take off rather than one you forget about. Dry it slowly at room temperature, never with heat, and keep oil and perfume away, since those soak in and stay.

Treatment

Not tested, and the specification sheet records that rather than claiming better. Smoke treatment darkens a pale body to imitate scarcer dark-bodied material; this stone's bright body gives no reason to suspect it, but the test has not been run. We can arrange independent laboratory testing before dispatch.

Care

Soft dry cloth only. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no hot water, no harsh chemicals. Store it away from harder stones.

More

Our guide to wearing opal covers the practicalities, the buying guide covers what to inspect, and the Ethiopian opal page has the rest of the stones.

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. Dimensions have not been recorded; message us on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ethiopian opal with a weight of 4.35 Carat. Its price is Rs. 10,880 — roughly Rs. 2,501 for each carat. Origin: Ethiopia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000722 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.