Door handles, keyboards, steering wheels: a ring meets all of them in a normal day, and any one can mark a stone at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. That is opal's hardness, and it decides how this 2.50 carat stone should be worn. A pendant hangs clear of nearly all of that contact.

If you do want a ring, choose a setting where the stone sits below a protective rim and treat it as a piece for occasions. Put it on after you have washed your hands and applied cream, not before, because soap and some creams dull the surface. Take it off for swimming; opal dislikes chlorine and heat.

The stone

A natural fire opal from Australia with play of colour, reference AG-000610.

Whole opal is usually sold natural, though smoke- or sugar-darkened opal and layered stones exist. We sell solid natural opal and will tell you what we know about this one if you ask on WhatsApp. Independent lab testing is your choice.

Cleaning and storage

A soft damp cloth is plenty. Dry the stone and keep it in its own pouch. Visit the opal category for other weights, and read our gemstone buying guide for the basics.

Open it at the door, check it, then pay. Karachi typically 1–2 working days, other cities 2–4, and 7 days to return.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 2.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 18,750 — roughly Rs. 7,500 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000610 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.