Warm colour and moving light are what to look for in this 3.4 carat Ethiopian fire opal. Turn it slowly and the play of colour should travel across the face. Ask for photographs or a video from any angle you want, quoting AG-000709.

If you plan to wear it, start with how tough it is. Opal sits at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, softer than quartz, sapphire or garnet. Household dust contains quartz, so an opal ring worn constantly will slowly dull and scratch. A pendant or earrings avoid most of that, and a ring is fine for occasions or for a careful wearer.

Treatment deserves a question too. Solid opal usually arrives as mined, while smoke or sugar treatment sometimes happens, and doublets or triplets are common in cheaper stock. We sell solid natural opal. Ask us about this stone and we will tell you what we know.

Cleaning and storage

Use lukewarm water and a soft cloth, nothing more. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and sudden temperature changes. Store it wrapped on its own, away from harder stones that could scratch it. More options are in our opal range, and our gemstone buying guide covers the basics.

It comes Cash on Delivery, so the money only changes hands once you have looked. Karachi usually 1–2 working days, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities 2–4, returns within 7 days.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural ethiopian opal with a weight of 3.4 Carat. Its price is Rs. 28,130 — roughly Rs. 8,274 for each carat. Origin: Ethiopia. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-000709 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 ethiopian 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 ethiopian 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.