Lightning Ridge Black opal $5000 p/c This article is written as a general guide for pricing opals from www.opalmine.com Opal Stone Price around the world can vary from just a few dollars to many thousands of dollars. In this article, we will first give you an idea of how the price structure of opal works. Keep in mind that this summary is not meant to be a specifically accurate valuation but only a broad understanding of how the three major types of opal are viewed by miners, cutters, and dealers and jewelry shops in regards to prices Lightning Ridge Black opal $5000 p/c Unlike many other valuable items, opals stone prices around the world are not established by agreement between cartel members but rather, what is being actually achieved by dealers and merchants. A little bit like an auction system without an auction. A cartel is a group of individuals or companies who come together to agree on a consistent price for a commodity. This means that no matter where you are, prices are pretty well consistent unless items find there way into alternate or black markets. Opal stone price around the world is based on supply and demand. When the supply is short, the price goes up. If a new field is found, the price can go down. Having said that, there is an understanding among dealers about the value of certain stones and there is a committee at Lightning Ridge who endeavors to set a price. This has only been moderately successful because merchants and miners deal directly with one another and form an understanding of prices. The opal industry, unlike other gemstone industries, consists mainly of small-time miners who usually keep quite confidential about there activities and often opal prices can be decided more on the financial needs of the miner rather than values. Having said that, people who are involved deeply in the industry have a good definition of what stones are worth and these opal stone prices around the world need to be interpreted in the currency of the country they are sold. We will discuss more about that later. The prices below are first stated in Australian dollars and will be translated into 14 different currencies in the chart at the bottom of this page, covering the major locations sponsored in www.opalmine.com As already mentioned, we emphasize that the prices are only approximations but will give you a general idea about what the price will be for the three major groups of opal in qualities ranging from the lowest to the highest. These graduations are expressed numerically, the lowest being 1, then 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. You will notice that we have added 7, 8,9 to Lightning Ridge Black Opal because there are certain very rare black opals that go far above the price of all other opals. These details are discussed later. First let us discuss the different types of solid opal (that is White and Crystal Opal mainly from Coober Pedy and Andamooka South Australia fields, then Boulder Opal from the Western Queensland, Australia fields, and finally Black Opal from Lightning Ridge in western New South Wales, Australia) and the approximate prices you would expect to pay for different qualities, sizes, and weights. You will notice that we have focused attention on the Australian opal fields. There are of course opals in other parts of the world but many of them have proved unreliable and too porous to use in jewelry. We will start at the least expensive of these stones, which up until recently at least are more plentiful than others and they are: White or pale Opal prices around the world Actually, white opal(sometimes called ‘milk’ opal) is the most recognized internationally because they have been mined for centuries in Slovakia where there were opals similar to Andamooka Painted lady and Coober Pedy white and crystal opals. After White Cliffs in south-western New South Wales, Australia, stopped producing, the focus began at Coober Pedy (in aboriginal “white man in a hole”) and Andamooka ( ‘large waterhole’) White opal price starts with an opaque ‘surface’ colored stone, the lowest quality having flickers of color against a pale or light grey background. Values of this stone along with its more expensive cousin, crystal opal are established by weight, measured in carats. A carat is a measurement originating with the use of carob seeds in ancient times because these seeds were quite similar in weight. Eventually, carats graduated into a recorded system of weighing gemstones. Opals are not such a heavy stone and a medium height cabochon (top of stone), size 8×6 mm (5/16” x ¼”) would weigh just under a carat. A 9×7 mm (3/8” x ¼”) stone would be about one carat. 1. A carat of this quality would cost around $10 retail. The value then grows as the color gets brighter and the pattern broader and more interesting. The next step up would be a pale more opaque stone with brighter more distinctive colors. The price could double to around $20 per carat. In this category, another variety would be a stone more translucent (jelly-like) but with colors that are quite subdued. 2. The stone then graduates into something not so opaque. More “see through” or translucent with obvious colors and patterns that attract more attention. We are now developing into a different category of white opal and that is what is termed “crystal” opal, named for its crystalline appearance, not being an actual crystal, because opal is hydrated silica, not crystal. Stones such as these could sell for around $50 per carat 3. The color then intensifies and combines with other colors giving it more interest. Price increases to around $80 per carat 4.As Crystal opal gets more brilliant with colors that really stand out. Some crystals from Lightning Ridge which have a darker appearance, the price will easily double and select stones can sell in the vicinity of $300 to $500 per 5.Still more color and brilliance. You can see into the stone but it is quite dense and striking. Price develops into $100 to $150 per carat The image above is a medium
What to look for when buying opals As there are many aspects to consider when buying opals, a guide can be useful. Having been associated with opal mining, cutting and processing for jewellery for over 40 years, I, Peter Brusaschi, am well qualified to show you what to look for when choosing and purchasing opals to suit your needs. How to tell a good quality opal. What to look for when buying opals? The value of opal per carat or by piece is probably the first thing to know, and the price is significantly influenced by the opal’s presentation, type, brightness, color play, pattern, and lack of imperfections. Opal stone meaning: Collins dictionary I have outlined below a comprehensive analysis of not just what to look for when buying opals but what the different types of opals look like and which one will best suit your budget and your personality. Value and size (opal stone price) The first thing to keep in mind is that opal stone values relate very much to: a. whether the stone is a solid opal, a doublet, a triplet, or matrix b. whether it is a white, crystal, boulder, or black opal c. the brightness of the stone, the amount of color, the pattern and the lack of imperfections. As suggested below scroll down to where the article discusses the difference between these stones under the heading and take a look at this article I have written on the subject Size is established usually by the internationally accepted decimal system of millimeters. The length of the stone being listed first followed by the width (i.e. 10×8 mm) 10 mm is approx. 3/8″ conversion chart here for USA readers. Weight is recorded in Carets using a special scale. A 10×8 mm opal weighs between 1 to 1.75 carats depending on the height of the stone. Opal Stone Price is generally measured against the value of black opal. Low-grade black opal can be around $50 per carat. Good quality blue opal from around $500 per carat. Green opal to green – orange up to $1000 per carat and more. Stones with dominant red are the rarest opals, combined with blues, greens, yellows and many variations can be priced from $5000 to $20,000 per carat depending on the brilliance of the stone and its background darkness. Fire opal prices are not discussed because the term is generally applied to mexican opals which are often just one color without a play of opalescence. Opal prices per gram are limited to rough opal which is also sold in parcels without weight. Presentation of Opals (how to tell a good quality opal) First, a dictionary definition of the stone itself. An opal color chart has been developed but this can be very confusing and the subtle differences in background shades and brilliance is often in the eye of the beholder. In my opinion its best to study the picture carefully and decide whether you personally like it or not and communicate with the seller personally. OPAL The following information will give you a very comprehensive summary of the whole opal industry, If you like you can skip down to the ‘what to look for’ section but if you do have some time and considering that you might be making a decision to spend a considerable amount of money, the following details will give you a better background to help you make the right decision. Finding information about opals is much easier nowadays than it was even 20 years ago, before the age of the internet. The first posting on the internet from www.opalmine.com was in 1996 and since that year many changes have been made to the site and of course, Google has evolved into the amazing source of information that we have today (2019) Unlike the old days, today it’s not so difficult to find information on that most amazing of gemstones, opal. Often opals are associated with a country, namely, AUSTRALIA which although from a European point of view is only a young country, being around 200 years old since immigrants from that area migrated. But from a geological point of view, it is very ancient and these fascinating gems lay dormant in the Australian desert for a very long time. Of course, aboriginals, the first inhabitants have been here for thousands of years, but they were most interested in the things in life that really matter. Namely, finding somewhere comfortable to live with plenty of water and food. They were not so interested in trinkets and probably would not have seen the sense in digging in the ground looking for pieces of rock. In fact, the opal mining town of Coober Pedy was named by the aboriginals and means ‘white man in a hole’ and it mustn’t have made much sense to those early inhabitants that people would bother to dig in the Australian outback heat. Particularly considering that the tools they had in those early days did not consist of bulldozers, backhoes, and excavators. It was just a pick and shovel episode. Backtracking a bit to the topic of ‘what to look for in buying opals’ its pretty obvious that if you are going to buy anything it’s a good idea to consult with someone who has hands-on involvement in the item being considered. In this case Opal. But before we go further into that, let’s take a look at the types of opals that are offered in various countries of the world, because Australia is not the only source. Opal Sources and history The history of opal goes a long way back into history. In fact, to the time of the ancient Romans, some of whom appreciated the stone very much. The source of these stones of antiquity was Europe. To be specific It was modern day Slovakia. These opals in the past have been known as Hungarian but that was at a time when Slovakia was a part of the Hungarian world power, which is not the
Opal Gift Card Our Opal gift card can be emailed to you to either print yourself or have a local printer do it professionally. Opal Gift Card if you are running late to get the gift These cards are particularly helpful if you are running late to buy a gift for someone. Sometimes they are nearly as good as the gift itself because they build anticipation and show the person that you are thinking about them. When you get the card by email, if you have a good color printer, you can print it out yourself and fill in the details by hand, or you can have a local printer to do the card up on a special card to make it more professional. If you decide to do this, be sure to ring up the printer and obtain an email address that you can pass on to Peter and he can send the card direct to the printer to save you the worry of having to go twice to organize it. Pictures on the Opal Gift Card The pictures on the card are different views of the opal fields at Lightning Ridge and without saying what the gift is, the pictures will create an atmosphere that challenges the person to guess what the gift will be without actually saying what it is and keeping it a surprise. Lightning Ridge is the home of the famous black opal. It is one of three major fields, the others famous for white or crystal opal and the other in Queensland mining another kind of black opal, called boulder opal. Just a reminder that if you want us to send this free card to you, we will need the names of the giver (yourself) and who will receive the gift. Just the Christian names, of course, are enough
Black Opal Mens Jewelry Black Opal Mens Jewelry comes in many varieties. The term ‘black opal’ is usually associated with Lightning Ridge where the opal comes out of the ground mixed with what is called black “potch” which is actually natural opal without color When it sits at the back of precious opal color it has a dramatic effect on the presentation of the stone, giving it a darker more dramatic look. Black opal is the rarest of all opals Black Opal Mens Jewelry using boulder opal Black Opal Mens Jewelry However its close cousin, Boulder Opal is also considered a type of black opal because it has a dark brown background resulting in the same dramatic foreground colors. Boulder opal is becoming very popular as black opal mens jewelry because it caters for such a wide variety of personalities. Some men like jewelry that is glittery and traditional in presentation. Black Opal Mens Jewelry with a more rugged style Others prefer a more ‘rugged’ style that they consider to be more ‘manly.’ Boulder opal fits this perception very well because many boulder opals are a mixture of brown ironstone and color. At times the ironstone itself is just as interesting as the opal color because it comes in all sorts of patterns and shapes. Sometimes you can perceive pictures in it and if the pictures are obvious enough can be very valuable. Black Opal Mens Jewelry-Abstract stones You must have a little imagination to see them, sort of like looking at clouds. When there are not clear pictures, just like an oil painting they can be referred to as ‘abstract’ stones. They have interesting patterns that don’t identify with any known natural image. For more information about Black Opal Mens Jewelry or some advice about sizing and ordering, don’t hesitate to contact Peter by filling in the box on the bottom right-hand corner of each page Look for this:
Fire opal engagement Fire opal engagement rings and associated opal jewelry is a way of remembering your promise to the one you love. The fascinating thing about opal is that it never loses its change of color and video like vibrancy. Of course, not all opals jump from one color to another. Some opals have mainly one color such as blue, green, orange or red. But many of them have a combination of at least two colors such as blue-green or green-blue. The first color listed is the dominant one, the second is the less dominant. Traditionally, engagement rings have focused on either diamonds or other more known stones such as sapphire (blue, green, yellow or party colored which is a combination of the three colors) or red Ruby. These stones, of course, are very beautiful but still don’t have the play of color which makes opal different. So, in this article, we are suggesting that you think about using something more individual and unique for your fire engagement ring and we will show you some examples of what you can do, keeping in mind that the design of the ring can be adapted to your individual tastes. Some folks like rings that are larger and more complex, but generally fire opal engagement rings tend to be set in designs that are more subdued and practical, bearing in mind that engagement rings tend to be worn all the time, even in the washup and although Australian fire opal engagement rings can be mistreated a little like this, its recommended that you treat them with a little more respect. There are opals from countries other than Australia but they are risky because they come from areas that are quite wet in climate and they are often very porous which means that if you happen to put your ring in water, the color will disappear and be replaced by a murky brown color. This, of course, is devastating to the wearer and has to be avoided at all costs. we are constantly getting complaints about this problem and we suggest to folks that sometimes the color can come back if you apply heat to it but this is so unsatisfactory. It’s better to avoid the problem by only buying from Australia which has a long history of dryness in the desert areas where the opals come from and can be guaranteed not to fade. For more information about this, don’t hesitate to contact Peter by listing your concerns in the blog below. Browse some of our opal rings here History of engagement rings
Opal engagement rings Opal engagement rings! It’s a BIG decision because this ring is not just for a special occasion but captures a memory for the rest of your life, The wearing of rings for engagement and other reasons goes back a long way. See: History of the wearing of rings Some of the earliest examples of dress rings among headdresses and other ancient jewelry can be seen today in museums such as the one at the University of Pennsylvania where jewelry from the ancient city of Ur south of Baghdad, Iraq was salvaged after archaeological digs in the 1920 ’s… What features of opal would make it so desirable as an engagement ring? Well, there are so many gorgeous gemstones featured in rings. The most expensive usually being diamonds if they are of high quality but sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other colored stones often compete with them in price and appeal. The thing that makes opals stand out from all of them is the fact that they have this amazing knack of attracting the human eye almost as if they are alive because they often change from one color to another as they are rotated even slightly. Why does an Opal engagement ring feature the stone more than other types of jewelry? The obvious reason is that the hand moves more than (for example) the neck, so the stone catches light coming from many different directions and the colors role from one to another. This is because the surface of the opal is made up of minute spheres that grab the color from the spectrum and change it to different colors. Hence an opal ring can be basically red but when it turned can turn to greens, yellows, and blues, depending on the size of the microscopic spheres. Opal engagement rings – totally unique in the world of gemstones Technically this is correct with whatever gemstone you are wearing but it must be said that even though no two diamonds are identical the difference with opal is that they are OBVIOUSLY different, whereas the white of the diamond, the blue of the sapphire, or the green of an emerald can look pretty much the same. Opals are often called ‘the personality stone’ because you can get them in just about any color and they can match a persons preference whether it is green like emerald, blue like sapphire, red like a ruby, yellow like yellow sapphire, deep red like garnet, and other varieties. And if you want the presence of a diamond, you can always add a couple of small diamonds which are not so expensive. (see an example of the black opal ring with diamonds on this page. Designs The designs shown here are just examples. The Ladi-Di design, for example, has been named after the engagement ring given to The Princess of Wales by Charles, in the early 1980’s. It’s a traditional diamond surround design. If you have your own design idea you can do a rough sketch of it and send it to us for completion. Or you may see a ring already in existence that you like. Just take a picture and send to us. The ring can be made in either white or yellow gold or if you want to keep the price down to conserve money as you begin your married life, you can use precious silver as an alternative. Some of the rings on this page are a combination of silver and gold which is another alternative. Peter will be happy to give you some ideas and whether you buy something on this site or not, he is pleased to offer suggestions. You can contact Peter in the HELP!, “leave a message” box (bottom right-hand corner of the page) here in the contacts page or in the blog at the bottom of this page Opal engagement rings – Finger sizing – Chart Make sure you get the right size. Rings, of course, can be sized but in the case of an opal dress ring, it’s better if the supplier does the sizing so that they can make sure the job is done right without affecting the stone. Take a look at these rings for ideas. If you a ring appeals to you, check the different finger sizes and you might find the ring that suits your finger so you don’t have to worry about sizing. Go here for some interesting information about how to find your finger size in different countries. A special warning Just about every day I get folks from around the world really upset about a ring they have purchased from well-meaning jewelers with an opal that has either lost its color or turned an ugly brown. These stones come from countries where the climate is too wet. The opal is called ‘hydrophane’ and is very porous and apart from being prone to cracking, it absorbs water which takes away the color. Sometimes the color can be restored after drying out but it’s too risky. Our suggestion is to only buy Australian opals because of the dry climate where they are found. If you want help in making a decision, Peter is always willing to assist. There is no obligation to buy. Comments from opal customers “Thank you so much. The ring is exactly what we were after. The design & stone is amazing. This is a present for our daughter and she will be able to keep this ring and hand it on. Peter has done a fantastic job and nothing to was too much to ask. Highly recommend Peter and his work. Thanks” Raelene R Opal Engagement Rings >>View more Opal Engagement Rings
Opal rings in Australia Opal Rings in Australia, the most reliable source of opal: Details would not be complete without a brief review of the opal fields. Since the mid 19th century when opal was first found in Australia in Queensland and later in NSW at White Cliffs, then Coober Pedy and Andamooka. White Cliffs was mined out and the town became just about empty but a few miners have been hanging on and recently another large find of high-quality crystal opal was found and it looks like the town will be entering a new phase. Other mines such as Lightning Ridge where the black opal comes from have been struggling too with very few new areas being found. What makes Australian Opal arguably the best in the world? Australia is a very dry continent. Most of the population live in the coastal areas where most of the rain falls but in the outback often there is no rain and a lot of it is a desert. The South Australian mines are in very dry areas. North to Lightning Ridge and further north in the Queensland boulder opal fields, things get a bit wetter and in a good season, there are good crops of wheat grown at Lightning Ridge and other areas raise healthy cattle. However despite the rainfall, the area is basically dry which can be uncomfortable for living but offers the best environment for high-quality opals because opal, being a hydrated silica needs to release its moisture gradually over a long dry period, and hence the opals from these areas are more secure than other parts of the world where the stones often come from more mountainous and coastal wet areas. Opal Rings in Australia but where do they come from? By all accounts, it was first discovered in Western Queensland to the north-west of Australia. This type of opal comes in sometimes large boulder ironstone in the north of this state but also in small nodules called ‘nuts’ in the towns of Yowah and Koroit south-west of the state. As mentioned earlier, black opals are in Lightning Ridge south of the Queensland border and further south white and crystal opals are found in Coober Pedy, Andamooka, and White Cliffs as well as a number of other smaller mining areas. What are the different types of opal found in Australia? Boulder opal is given that name because it comes in thin veins in the boulder ironstone. Black opal is called that, not because the opal is black but because the color is found with a dark or black background creating the effect of throwing the color forward and making it darker and more striking. Light and crystal opal from the other fields is a more delicate stone with its own amazing appeal. At times it is opaque in that the color forms on the outside or surface of the stone and at other times is more crystal or translucent so that you can see deep into it. What to look out for when buying an Australian Opal Look for brilliance in the color of the stone. If the stone looks at YOU instead of you having to look at it, you will know its a good stone. Its all about what appeals to the eye. If you are buying an opal ring, its best to get a solid opal black, boulder, or crystal if you are the type of person who doesn’t look after your rings so well. If you are a bit careful a nice triplet will be fine as these stones give the brilliance of the best quality black opals at a fraction of the price but its best not to wear them constantly in wash-up water or gardening for obvious reason. Opal Rings in Australia – ring guarantees are important When shopping for Australian opal, look for suppliers who give an international guarantee that is perpetual, not just for a year. That way, unless you drop the stone or break it against something hard, the supplier will guarantee its security after many years of ownership. Australian opal ring Finger sizing When shopping for Opal rings in Australia, first find out your finger size or the size of the person you are giving it to so that you can search for the ring with the right size. If you like something that is the wrong size you can ask about getting it sized. Here is some information about determining what finger size you need if you don’t know. At this site you will also learn about the different ways finger sizes are listed in different countries. Comments from Australian opal ring buyers “Dain received the ring at his work on Friday. I LOVE the ring, it’s beautiful!!! And the pendant you sent was a perfect match for the ring, it’s a style I would have chosen myself. Thanks, Peter I’m chuffed to bits.” Michelle Smith, Chesham, Buckinghamshire additional reference: a history of jewelry
Opal rings-cost advice Opal rings-cost advice-First consideration It’s pretty obvious that you have to think about an approximate budget before committing to buy. It’s possible to buy opal rings from under $50 if you look for low grade or synthetic lab opals (‘lab’ is short for ‘laboratory’ which means that they are man-made) Can you afford $100, $500, $1000, more or less. Then it’s easier to focus on the opal rings that you can afford. getting good Opal rings-cost advice is important What would you expect to pay for a nice opal that suits your pocket? I remember the time not too long ago when you could buy a troy oz of gold for under $50. But those days are in the past and currently, gold is selling for over $1200 per troy oz and threatening to go much higher. So if you are looking for a cost of no more than perhaps $500, it would be best to focus on silver rather than gold metal. There are some lightweight gold rings for sale under that amount. This ring has a lot more metal but its silver gold plated. Keep in mind the quality of the opal, not just the cost Opal rings get a lot more rough treatment than pendants, brooches or bracelets because of the constant movement of the hands. Along with this, many wearers are not very kind with their jewelry and will leave rings on their fingers when working on the car, gardening, or doing the wash-up. So if you are one of those types (as I am) its better to go for a solid opal rather than a doublet or a triplet which are fine as pendants and earrings, etc, but not recommended for rough work. When arriving at the cost, double check the freight cost which might be nearly as much as the ring itself. Opal rings-cost advice helps you make the right decision. In fact when considering this charge, look for a website that includes the cost of freight in the price so you know where you stand at a glance. Here is an example of an online shop which does that very thing. The only exception to this is if you have a very short deadline to keep for a gift, in which case often a special courier has to be called and this cost can add up to $100 or so. This can be quite difficult because some folks have fingers that get swollen knuckles and yet the area on Finally, keep this important aspect in mind. You will be sorry if you forget it Don’t just take a look at the design of the ring itself but check the FINGER SIZE. You will need to find out finger size of the person the ring is going to, whether it’s yourself, a wife, a husband, or a friend. Take a close look at the item online and check the finger size. In the USA the sizes are in figures. For example, 7, 8, or 9 etc. In the UK its letters. (M, N, O etc) In Europe, it’s different again. For a full explanation of all these sizes, along with suggestions of how to find your size using the inside diameter of the ring. John, one of the thousands of online opal ring buyers reported here I have purchased a couple of products and am hugely satisfied with them, I think they are wonderful. They are gifts for my wife and I am sure she will be just as delighted as I am. The service was superb and I cannot find even the smallest criticism of the whole operation. Many thanks, John Allison
Sterling silver opal ring Sterling silver opal ring? Why has silver become so popular in opal rings? One major reason is an economic one. I remember when gold was $40 a troy oz back in the early 70’s. We all have our ‘if only’ memories. ‘if only’ we had bought a couple of kilos of the yellow stuff back then, we would be sitting pretty today. Or to put it more personally, my cousin Glen, who was a gold miner in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia where I was born, sold me a bunch of large gold nuggets he had found, for about that price. At the time I tried to sell them in the Opal Miner’s Hut, my opal shop, and no one wanted them. I eventually sold them out at near cost. Haa… what a mistake! Investment comments, July 2017 – just for interest Buying sterling silver opal ring (s) will more than half the cost of the item Although it’s reported that percentage-wise, silver is now increasing in value at a greater amount than gold because it’s a much more practical metal. Not only does it look good with opal or indeed with any gemstone, but it’s a fraction of the price. From an investment point of view, silver is used much more in the manufacturing process that gold even with the lack of demand for the metal in the photography process, now that digital has taken over. Even so, the metal is not nearly as rare as gold so it’s still much more affordable. History of silver here What is the appeal of creating opal rings in silver metal? Well, opal is a very versatile Australian gemstone. It comes in many varieties. However, the major categories are as follows: Crystal or white opal from the Coober Pedy, Andamooka, and White Cliffs areas of South Australia and Southern New South Wales. Black opal from the Lightning Ridge field in New South Wales Boulder Opal from Queensland’s North West. Some of these varieties present very well in a white metal like silver or white gold. For example, the dark background of the black and boulder opals contrast nicely with the shiny white color of the sterling silver opal ring Boulder opal particularly when the opal color is cut and polished in association with the chocolate brown ironstone which often surrounds the color, it forms what could be described as a dark frame between the opal color and the metal. Opal rings in silver like this creates a delightful contrast. How about the convenience of this metal from a manufacturing point of view Well, it can be stated that, because the metal is much cheaper than gold, the manufacturer doesn’t have to be so careful in saving costs. He or she can create heavier designs which make the opal ring more wearable and less delicate. This provides a particular advantage to opal rings for guys who tend to give them a lot more rough treatment. How does sterling silver influence the opal ring designer and manufacturer? Again, for economic reasons, the designer can be more creative if he or she doesn’t have to constantly be concerned with keeping the weight of the metal down. This means that opal rings can be produced that are more unique and adventurous in the final presentation. Australian Sterling silver opal ring, international warranty Look for a supplier that gives a perpetual guarantee to add security to your purchase. Also look for suppliers who cover you for the freight charge which can be expensive if the item comes from a different country to yours. Sizing a ring to suit your finger or the person you are giving it to Click here to find out an easy way of getting the right finger size without having to go to a jeweler. If you want to make the purchase of a Sterling silver opal ring a secret until you give it to someone, check the image to the left. Just borrow an existing ring and measure the diameter. Take a look at the rings here or tell Peter in the blog below what you are looking for and let him do the research. If possible keep in mind and an approximate amount that you can afford as a guide. Go here to see a variety of silver and gold rings Some comments from happy customers We recommend this site because of the amount of satisfaction reflected in the comments. Example below: “I recommend this site to anyone interested in Excellent Quality and workmanship! The boulder opal watch that I purchased from this website is Absolutely Gorgeous! I get compliments on it every time I wear it! Great communication from the Customer Service department as well. I couldn’t be more pleased!!” Laurie Z. Penn, Radcliff, KY USA
Buying opals: Seven mistakes people make Buying opals: seven mistakes people make is a very necessary subject, for jewelry is a great decision because of the uniqueness and beauty of the stone which changes color when turned. But this practice is fraught with danger. In the past 30 years or so, clever marketers have found ways of producing gemstones such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds and more recently, opals that look not just like the real thing but are actually produced in a laboratory. It’s fine to own costume jewelry if that’s what you want but if you want the real thing, be careful of this practice. Unfortunately, because opal is such a specialized gemstone, many jewelers themselves don’t know much about it and are confused about its origin. Buying opals that will crack or craze in a relatively short time Opals and other gemstones such as emeralds have a tendency to crack if they are not from reliable sources. Emeralds are often treated with oil that can hide the cracks. Opal cracks are more difficult to hide but because opal is hydrated silica (meaning it has a percentage of water content.) This is fine if the opal comes from the Australian outback deserts where the stone has been dried out over probably thousands of years. Many opals being marketed cheaply are from coastal wet or mountainous areas where the water content is too high. These stones will almost certainly crack in time. You will need to make sure, even if your stone IS from Australia, that you have an international perpetual guarantee from a reliable supplier with a good reputation. Buying opals that will lose their color almost immediately if you soak them in water For a similar reason as the comments made above, opals from wet areas are also very porous which means that the surface of the stone can be like blotting paper. If you happen to wear your opal ring in the wash-up or the shower, it will almost certainly suck in the moisture and turn beautiful color into an ugly brown. A good indication of this type of porous opal is that they are often faceted like diamonds and sapphires, rather than cut with a dome. This is not always the case but because they are often more translucent than opaque the stone presents better with facets. This is an immediate indication that it could well be a stone that will probably change color. It is said that if you put these stones in the sun for a while, the color will return but since they are often prone to cracking as well, this can be a risky procedure. Buying opals without a high dome that are claw set For claws to be closed onto a stone successfully it’s almost imperative that the stone is high domed or there will be a tendency for the hardness of the gold or silver claws to chip the edge of the opal. We are not saying that you should not buy stones like this because if they have been successfully closed without chipping the stone, that’s fine. just look very closely and ask the supplier if the setting is perfect. Buying opals without reading the small print to make sure it’s not ‘lab’ opal or man-made Even in some well respected online shopping sites, because the promoters are not opal experts, they don’t know anything about the differences between natural and synthetic opal. Often the individual promoters on these sites will hide the real identification of the opal within the body of extensive explanations and it’s so easy to read a paragraph and not even notice the ‘lab opal’ or ‘laboratory opal’ or ‘created opal’ identification. Sure, in MOST cases reputable sites will mention this but if you are not looking for it, it can easily be missed, resulting in you paying for something that looks OK but is not real. Buying opals that have the same color on the front as the back of the stone This is an excellent telltale way of identifying a synthetic opal at a glance even if you don’t know much about the stone. It doesn’t ALWAYS apply because on occasions natural gemstones are the same color right through the stone but usually, the back of the stone will have some imperfections or at least will have different patterns to the top of the stone. So if you are buying an opal unless it’s from a reputable opal dealer, always ask to see the back of the stone as well as the front. If the back of the jewelry item is covered by gold and silver, it’s impossible to check, so don’t buy it unless you have an absolute perpetual guarantee that it is natural. We say ‘perpetual’ because if the item is only guaranteed for a year, often the cracks or change of color will occur a couple of years down the track. Buying opals that have a pattern that does not look natural When synthetics were first invented they had a pattern that was obviously unnatural because the pattern ‘looked’ man-made being too symmetrical. However, this is not a good guide today because they have overcome this problem in the laboratory and unless you are an expert it can be very difficult from the foreground of the stone to tell the difference. This just emphasizes again that unless you are dealing with a trained opal processor who gives an international perpetual guarantee, you really don’t know what you are buying and this piece of advice does not apply just to opal because jewellers shops nowadays are full of beautiful ‘rubies’ ‘sapphires’ and ‘diamonds’ which are man-made. As mentioned earlier, not that this is wrong. There is a market for them, as long as you know what you are buying and you are paying the right price for what is actually costume jewelry. Catherine March 30th, 2013 one of thousands reported here Just wanted to say a big thank you to