A 4.8 carat opal — 5.27 ratti — at Rs. 12,000, about Rs. 2,500 per carat.

Opal in a ring: the honest version

Opal is the most fragile gem commonly set in rings, and anyone selling you one should say so. It is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale — softer than quartz, which means ordinary household dust will scratch it — and it contains water, which makes it sensitive to heat and to sudden temperature change in a way that no other mainstream gem is.

That does not mean do not wear it. It means wear it knowingly. An opal ring is for occasions and office days, not for gardening, washing up, or the gym. Set in a protective bezel rather than claws, worn on a hand that is not doing heavy work, an opal lasts generations — there are Victorian opal rings in perfect condition. Worn carelessly, it will craze or chip within a year.

Why this size suits a ring

At nearly five carats this fills a men's ring face without standing so proud that it meets every door handle. Lower is safer with opal than with any other stone, so ask for a seat that sets the dome close to the shank.

The stone

A light body — brightness 200 out of 255 — with play-of-colour across 8% of the face, carrying an unusually high 18% blue within those flashes, alongside green and orange. It was previously listed as a black fire opal. It is not: the body is among the lightest grades there are, with no dark regions at all, and black opal is a different and far costlier material.

Care, specifically

Never an ultrasonic cleaner or steam — both will destroy an opal. No sudden heat, including leaving a ring on a sunny windowsill or near a stove. Clean with a soft damp cloth only. Store it apart from harder stones, and if a piece is unworn for long periods, keep it somewhere that is not bone dry.

Treatment has not been tested on this stone, so we say so 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 4.8 Carat. Its price is Rs. 12,000 — roughly Rs. 2,500 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000734 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.