At 2.25 carats this Australian opal sits in a comfortable middle ground. It is big enough that the play of colour is easy to enjoy from a normal distance, and small enough to sit neatly in a pendant or a pair of earrings without feeling heavy. Once opal passes two carats it starts to have real presence at the throat.

It is solid natural opal, reference AG-000572.

Checking an opal

Look at how bright the colour is, and turn the stone through several angles, because opal changes as it moves. Make sure no crack runs through the body. Ask whether it is solid: ours are, but doublets and triplets are common elsewhere. Ask, too, about smoke or sugar treatment, which does happen in the trade. Send us a message on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this particular stone.

Hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so protect it from knocks and store it apart from harder gems. You can line it up against others in the opal collection, and the gemstone buying guide covers the general points.

You pay only after opening the parcel in front of the rider. Delivery is usually 1–2 working days in Karachi and 2–4 in Lahore, Islamabad and other big cities, and unused stones can be returned within 7 days.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 2.25 Carat. Its price is Rs. 16,500 — roughly Rs. 7,333 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000572 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, 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. No lab report yet; independent testing welcome. 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.