Silver or gold? With this 2.40 carat Australian opal, either works. Silver gives it a cool, quiet frame that lets the colour do the talking, while yellow gold warms the whole piece up. At this size the stone holds the eye on its own, so a plain bezel is all it needs.

The setting matters more than the metal. A pendant is the safest home because it is rarely knocked. Earrings are fine too. A ring can work if it is a protective bezel and you keep it for occasions rather than daily wear, because opal sits at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and marks more easily than ruby or sapphire. If you want a custom silver ring made around it, talk it through with us on WhatsApp.

The essentials: solid natural opal from Australia, reference AG-000571. Smoking and sugar-staining are practised on some opal in the trade, so ask us what is known about this stone and we will answer honestly. Keep it away from heat and harsh chemicals.

More pieces are in the opal collection, and our gemstone buying guide is worth a read before you choose.

Cash on Delivery means you open the parcel and look before any money changes hands. Karachi orders usually arrive in 1–2 working days, other cities in 2–4, and you have 7 days to return it.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 2.4 Carat. Its price is Rs. 13,500 — roughly Rs. 5,625 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000571 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.