If you want an opal to last, hang it round your neck rather than putting it on your hand. A pendant is not knocked against door handles, desks and car doors; it is not dunked every time you wash; and it spends most of its life hanging quietly in the air. For a gem that rates 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, that difference is measured in years.

The stone

6.20 carats, which is 6.81 ratti. Rs. 15,500, about Rs. 2,500 per carat, reference GS-000714. Recorded shape: oval. Origin: Ethiopia. One piece, as photographed.

What it looks like

Measured from the photograph, play of colour covers about 11% of the face — above average for our Ethiopian stock — on a body reading 200 out of 255 in brightness. Greens lead into warm oranges. At 6.20 carats it is substantial enough to be the whole piece, and at under Rs. 1,700 per carat it is one of the better rates in our range, because opal gets cheaper per carat as stones get larger.

Why a pendant suits opal

1. Far fewer knocks. The commonest way an opal is damaged is a ring striking something hard. A pendant mostly avoids that.
2. It stays out of water. A ring goes through every hand-wash and every wudu. A pendant usually does not, which matters for a stone that absorbs water.
3. Light reaches it from the front. Play of colour needs light to work. At the neck the stone is well lit and faces outwards.
4. Size is free. A 6.20 carat stone that would feel bulky on a finger looks right on a chain.

Setting advice

A bezel with a simple bail. Ask the setter to work cold — the stone goes into a finished mount and never meets a torch. An open back lets light through and lifts the colour, though a closed back protects better; for a pendant, which leads an easy life, open is usually worth it.

The water question

Ethiopian opal is usually hydrophane: porous enough to absorb water, after which it may turn clear or cloudy with the play of colour faded until it dries. This is temporary and does no harm, but let it dry slowly at room temperature and never apply heat. Keep perfume and hair products away from it — a pendant sits exactly where people spray both, and oils soak into a porous stone and stay there. Perfume first, jewellery afterwards.

Treatment

Not tested, and the specification sheet states that rather than claiming better. The treatment worth knowing about is smoke treatment, which darkens a pale body to imitate scarcer dark-bodied opal; this stone's bright body gives no reason to suspect it, but the test has not been done. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged before dispatch.

Care

Soft dry cloth. No ultrasonic cleaner, no steam, no hot water. Store it apart from harder stones. Check it under a light now and then for crazing.

More

Our guide to wearing opal covers the practical side, the buying guide covers choosing a stone, and the Ethiopian opal page has the rest. Opal is also an October birthstone, which makes it a common gift choice.

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 6.2 Carat. Its price is Rs. 15,500 — roughly Rs. 2,500 for each carat. Origin: Ethiopia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000714 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.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

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.