Once categorized, opals are sold in price per carat, or weight. Because there are so many opal fields in Australia, there really is no singular form of opal. This means that opal costs can vary from about $10 per carat to approximately $6,000 per carat.
Is it cheaper to buy opals in Australia?
Why? The reason is because this bustling city is the world’s leading opal market, with prices per karat of opal about 30% to 40% less than in Australia, 50% less than in the United States. Some superstitious people think that opals are unlucky–unless they’re your birthstone (October) or are given to you as a gift.
What is the price of Australian opal?
Note – Typically, the price of an Australian Opal in India starts from Rs 800 per carat ($12 approx.) and reach up to Rs 7000 per carat ($100 approx.) and more.
What’s worth more opal or gold?
Opals Are Worth More Than Their Weight in Gold.
Why is opal so expensive?
The distribution and intensity of these colorful flashes are what gives the determination of its costing. The opal stone is mainly found in Australia, where the mines supply up to almost all of the global opals gemstones. This is another factor that makes the gemstone more expensive as compared to the others.
How can I get Australian opal?
If you’re looking for a timeless souvenir from Australia, then shop for precious opals at one of these reputable sellers.
- Victoria. Lightning Ridge Opal Mines. Shop, Store. …
- New South Wales. Opal Minded. Shop, Store. …
- Queensland. Opals Down Under. Shop, Store. …
- Western Australia. Fremantle Opals. …
- South Australia. Coober Pedy.
Are opals a good investment?
Opals are a great investment, because they’re only getting rarer, and they can diversify your portfolio providing a safe and real investment you can touch. At the Good Opal co. All opals priced over $500 are considered an investment and come with a certificate of authenticity and grading.
Is opal expensive?
Generally opals with a black or dark body tone are more valuable than those with a white, light, or crystal body tone, because a stone with a darker body tone tends to display colours more vibrantly. … Black opal is the most prized opal and may realise prices over AUD $15,000 a carat.
Which Colour opal is best?
Valuing Opal
Brightness – brightest is best. Colour – purple is the most common colour, then blue, then green, through gold then orange to red, which is the most rare and therefore valued most highly. Pattern – some patterns, like Chinese Writing or Harlequin, are more rare than others, like Pinfire.
Are opals more expensive than diamonds?
Getting your hands on opal is easy, but finding gem-quality opal is another story. Diamonds, on the other hand, fetch a high price even for the most low-quality diamonds. … Because the value of most diamonds will be higher than opals, while high-quality opals are rarer than diamonds.
How do I sell my opal?
How to Sell My Opals
- Get your opal appraised by a jeweler. …
- Take pictures of your opal at different angles. …
- Sell your opals on eBay. …
- List your opal for free on craigslist. …
- Sell your opal to a jeweler in your area.
- Take your opal to a pawn shop if you need immediate cash and are having problems selling your item.
Are opals found outside Australia?
Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world’s precious opal and it is our official national gemstone.
Are white opals expensive?
Value. By comparison, white opals are the least valuable form of opal. … However, good quality white opal can be incredibly beautiful, and may fetch prices up to AUD $200 per carat. There are many factors including brightness and pattern which determine the overal value of opal.
Is it bad luck to buy yourself an opal?
Opal Superstitions
It’s bad luck to wear an opal unless it’s your birthstone. Opal is the birthstone of October. You should never buy an opal for yourself. It should only be given as a gift.
How can you tell a real opal?
Most genuine solid opals have an irregularity in this area – curved or bumpy due to their natural formation – whereas a man-made stone will be perfectly flat because the two sections are flattened so they can be glued together. Be especially wary if the opal is set in jewellery and you cannot see its back or side.
What’s the most expensive opal?
The Virgin Rainbow
This $1 million opal is the world’s most expensive. It was discovered in 2003 by John Dunstan (who has been featured in the Outback Opal Hunters TV show) in the same opal fields as the Fire of Australia. Another interesting fact is it formed and was found within an ancient cuttlefish skeleton.