Is it solid, and has it been treated? Ask any experienced gem dealer what to ask about opal and you will almost always hear those two questions. They matter more for opal than for most gems. Whole opal is normally sold as found, but some stones are smoked or sugar-treated to deepen the body colour, and doublets and triplets, a thin opal layer glued to a backing, are sold too. We sell solid natural opal only.

A careful buyer should also ask about the actual stone rather than opal in general, and about cracks, because opal holds water and can craze if it dries out.

This 2.75 carat opal

It is a natural fire opal from Australia with play of colour, and at this size it makes a pendant with real presence. Hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so a bezel setting and gentle wear suit it. The reference is AG-000606; send it to us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this piece. Independent lab testing is entirely up to you.

The wider opal range offers other sizes, and our gemstone buying guide is a good place to start.

On Cash on Delivery you open the parcel and inspect the stone before paying anything. Karachi deliveries usually take 1–2 working days, the rest of Pakistan 2–4, and unused stones can be returned within 7 days.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural australian opal with a weight of 2.75 Carat. Its price is Rs. 23,250 — roughly Rs. 8,455 for each carat. Origin: Australia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000606 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.