Features of Opal that Determine Price

With each stone it is important to consider :

	Colours present in the stone (also called "play of colour")
	Brightness of the stone - called the "fire"
	Whether the stone is black, dark, boulder or light body tone
	The care of opals and opal jewellery
	How saturated or intense the colours are
	Whether the stone appears dull from any angles
	Whether the stone is flat on top or has a rounded dome
	The size and weight of the stone
	The cut of the stone - even oval, or irregular freeform
	The value of the setting the opal is in if set - the gold, accent diamonds and workmanship

Opals that have mixed spectral colours of red, blue green are the most valuable, often fetching many thousands of dollars per carat, particularly if they are bright.

However, there are many stones in blue and green that can range down to as low as $20 per carat retail. Brightness and fire is major consideration, driving up the value if the stone is very bright.

Doublets are typically one tenth the value of the solid equivalent, with triplets cheaper still.

If looking at stones and opal jewellery pieces in various outlets it is important to compare "like with like" - to consider whether particular stones have the same brightness, same play or colour or quality of setting, and whether other considerations such as the showroom lighting are the same, when checking prices.