In this article
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
People in Pakistan usually come to opal for one of two reasons. Either they have fallen for the flashes of colour that dance across it, or an astrologer has linked it to Venus for them. Both are good reasons, and both go better with a little background. Opal carries water inside it, it is softer than most ring stones, and a lot of what gets sold as opal is either assembled or imitation. Here is what we tell customers before they wear one.
Where opal's colour comes from
Precious opal is built from tiny spheres of silica packed in orderly rows. Light bends between them and splits into flashes of spectral colour, which is called play-of-colour. The brighter, bigger and more varied those flashes are, and the darker the body behind them, the more the stone is worth. Common opal, which has no play-of-colour, costs far less.
Opal in Vedic tradition
South Asian astrology ties opal to Venus (Shukra), and it is traditionally worn for creativity and for harmony in relationships. Some astrologers suggest it in place of diamond, the classical Venus stone. These are beliefs, not guaranteed results. Practitioners do not agree on the right weight, metal or finger, so settle those with your astrologer before you have a ring made. Our rashi guide sets out the usual pairings.
Day-to-day life with an opal
- Hardness: 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Pendants and earrings are the safest choice. A ring is possible with a protective setting and a bit of care.
- Water and heat: because opal holds water, sudden heat or very dry air can cause a web of fine cracks known as crazing. Keep it away from heaters, strong sun and hot water. In a Karachi summer, do not leave it on a car dashboard.
- Cleaning: wipe with a soft damp cloth. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.
Doublets, triplets and opalite
A doublet is a thin slice of opal glued onto a dark backing. A triplet adds a clear cap of quartz or glass on top. Both are honest products when they are sold for what they are, but they are worth much less than solid opal and must never be soaked. Look at the stone from the side: a straight glue line or a layer of a different colour gives them away. Opalite is simply glass with a bluish glow and no real play-of-colour. Ask the seller to write down whether the stone is solid natural opal.
What sets the price
The brightness and pattern of the play-of-colour, the body tone, whether the stone is solid or assembled, and whether it is free of cracks matter most. Size comes after those.
Before you buy
Make sure the stone is natural, any treatment or assembly is disclosed, and the weight is that of the finished stone. We check every stone and photograph each one separately. Browse our opals, or compare sapphire and amethyst. Urdu and English names are on our names page. Cash on Delivery covers Karachi, Lahore and every other city.
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