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How Much Is Opal Stone Worth?

By Gemexi Team | Jewelry Education
  • Updated On Apr 15, 2023
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How Much Is Opal Stone Worth?

Various metals, stones, and woods have been used for the purpose of beautification since the primeval days by our ancestors. Gold, Silver, and Bronze have been used to make various kinds of pieces of jewelry. For the past few hundred years, gemstones have been studded in metals like gold, silver, and bronze for the very purpose of ornamentation as well as astrological purposes. Opal can be considered one of the most precious gemstones used to make various pieces of opal jewelry, and for this very reason, the cost of Opal is too high.

How Much Is Opal Stone Worth?

The value of opal stone can vary greatly depending on several factors, such as its type, size, color, pattern, clarity, and origin. Generally, high-quality opals that exhibit a play of color and have a bright, vivid hue are more valuable than those with dull or weak colors.

Black opals from Lightning Ridge, Australia, are among the most valuable opals and can be worth thousands of dollars per carat. Boulder opals from Queensland, Australia, and white opals from South Australia are also highly prized.

Common or lower-quality opals can range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars per carat. However, fine-quality opals with unique characteristics can fetch thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per carat.

It's important to note that the value of opals, like any other gemstone, is also affected by market demand, availability, and other factors that can influence supply and demand. It's best to consult with a reputable gemologist or appraiser to determine the exact value of a specific opal stone.
 

How Can You Tell if an Opal is Valuable?

An opal's value can be determined by several factors, including its type, quality, size, color, pattern, and origin. Here are some key characteristics to consider when determining the value of an opal:
 

  1. Color of Opal

An Opal may be known as hydrated amorphous silica where the water content ranges from 3% to 21% by the total weight but in actuality, it is generally between 6% to 10%. By possession of its amorphous nature, Opal is categorized as a mineraloid. Opal is different from the crystalline forms of silica which fall under the category of minerals. There are two basic classes of Opal ad they are precious Opal and Common Opal. Precious Opal arrives with the display of play-of-color, which is not found in Common Opal. The play-of-color is termed the pseudo-chromatic optical effect, which results in the flashes of colored light on some desired minerals as they are turned into white light. The background colors of Opal may be white, grey, black, or any desired color of the visual spectrum. Opal cost is generally high because of the rare occurrence in nature.
 

  1. Opal Pattern

The Opal is considered to be the queen of all gemstones and the very reason behind which it is considered to be so is the uniqueness of this gemstone and rareness of this gemstone which arrive in different incredible patterns. The scientific reason behind the occurrence of the patterns is still unknown. Some Opals have more than two or three colors or patterns. Some of the mportant patterns of Opal are Bamboo Leaf Pattern, Block Pattern, Cats Eye Pattern, Cathedral Pattern, Chaff Pattern, Chinese Writing Pattern, Dragon Skin Pattern, Floral Patter, and Fern patterns. Opal’s worth is so high due to the presence of these beautiful patterns.
 

  1. Clarity, transparency, and a number of inclusions

In the case of an Opal, clarity is defined as the degree of transparency and freedom from various inclusions. The clarity of an Opal can range from purely transparent to Opaque. The price of Opal per carat depends on the clarity of the gemstone. In the case of crystal Opal, the experts go for transparency whereas in case of the black Opal, and opaqueness in preferred. The various kinds of Opal clarity have an impact on the value of the gemstone. Opal arrives with fragments of the host rock named the matrix.
 

  1. Brightness of Opal

How much is Opal stone worth? The answer to this specific question depends on the brightness of the gemstone named Opal. The body tone or the base tone or the background color implies the relative darkness of the background, which contrasts with Opal’s play-of-color of the iridescence. This is generally assessed face-up in the act of ignoring the iridescence or the play-of-color ranging from jet black to transparent one. Black Opals show an iridescence that complies with N1 to N4 when viewed face-up. On the contrary, white Opal crystal arrives with the play-of-color complying with N7 to N9 when viewed face-up.
 

  1. Shape of Opal

How much is an Opal stone worth? The very answer to this question complies with the shape of the desired gemstone. The shape of the complete outline of the gemstone Opal may affect the specific value of the gemstone. Some of the shapes are more desirable in comparison with others. The familiar shapes of an Opal are pear, oval as well as round. Opals are commonly polished into various shapes as well as free forms, and in many a case, they are called Baroque. The very reason behind this could be to display the more dominant play of colors when seen from a face-up position.
 

  1. Country Origin of Opal

How valuable is Opal? The answer to this desired question relates to the place of origin of this special gemstone. The primary, as well as the most important source of this precious gemstone, is Ethiopia and Australia. Australian Opal has been cited as accounting for 97% of the world’s supply of precious Opal. It is difficult to state the proportion of the global supply of Opal arriving from either country.
 

  1. Opal field source

The desired countries, Australia and Ethiopia are the largest producers of Opal in the entire world. The Opal field source in the country of Australia is the town of Coober Pedy, the Mintabie Opal Field, and Andamooka. The Wegel Tena in Ethiopia’s Wollo Province may be known as one of the largest producers of Opal. The desired state of Queretaro in Mexico is known for the possession of a large Opal field. Various small Opal fields in Mexico include Durango, Puebla, Morelos, Guanajuato, and many more.
 

  1. Natural or Treated

Opals can appear in both natural as well as in the treated form. Opals are generally treated for the act of providing a better appearance as well as durability. The desired treatment implies the grinding out of the various spots of sand in the black patch of the gemstone and the filling of the hole with the help of resin.
 

Why is Opal Worth So Much?

Opals can be valuable due to several factors, including their rarity, beauty, and demand. Here are some reasons why opals can be worth so much:
  1. Rarity - Opals are relatively rare gemstone, particularly those of high quality. The most prized opals, such as black opals from Lightning Ridge, Australia, are particularly rare and can command high prices.
     
  2. Play of Color - Opals are known for their unique play of color, which is caused by the diffraction of light through the gemstone's structure. Opals with a particularly bright, vivid play of color are highly valued by collectors and enthusiasts.
     
  3. Type and Origin - Certain types of opals, such as black opals from Lightning Ridge or boulder opals from Queensland, Australia, are particularly prized and can command high prices due to their rarity and beauty.
     
  4. Historical and Cultural Significance - Opals have been prized for centuries by various cultures, including ancient Greeks and Romans, and are considered a symbol of love, hope, and happiness. Opals with historical or cultural significance can be particularly valuable.
     
  5. Market Demand - As with any gemstone, the price of opals is also influenced by market demand. Opals are particularly popular in certain markets, such as the United States and Japan, which can drive up prices.

Conclusion about the Why is Opal Stone Worth So Much?

Numerous people from different corners of the globe arrive with the question- why is Opal so expensive? This specific gemstone, Opal, is considered one of the most precious gemstones. Australia, Ethiopia, and small portions of Mexico are known to be the major producers of this gemstone. The rareness of this gemstone in nature accounts for its expansiveness. Opal studded in metals like gold and silver produces eloquent pieces of jewelry which can be worn by both men as well as women. Gemexi is one of the best quality producers of Opal-based pieces of jewelry not only in India but across different counties of the world. They specialized in the provision of a variety of Opal-based pieces of jewelry like rings, necklaces, pendants, and many more.

1 Comments
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  • cathrin
    Nov 10, 2022, 9:20:03 AM

    How many patterns does opal have?

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