Having an Opal Valued: What Your Stone Is Really Worth
Opal knowledge · Establishing value
The stone from the drawer
Having an opal valued is the moment when an heirloom turns into either a disappointment or a surprise. Unlike gold, opal has no daily rate and no formula. Two stones of the same size can differ in value by a factor of fifty. Here is what you can judge yourself, when an appraisal is worth it and how to recognise a reputable buyer.
What the value rests on: The value rests on body tone, liveliness of the play of colour, the share of colours and the construction. A dark stone with strong red is worth many times a pale one with washed out blue. For insurance or a sale you need a written appraisal; a shop's buying estimate is no substitute.
What can you judge yourself?
You can check four things without any equipment. They decide the greater part of the value.
| Feature | Raises the value | Lowers the value |
|---|---|---|
| Body tone | dark to black | pale, milky |
| Play of colour | strong, across the whole surface | washed out, visible from one angle only |
| Colours | red and orange present | blue only |
| Construction | solid opal | doublet or triplet |
The single most important factor is body tone, because it amplifies all the others: the same colour looks many times stronger on a dark base. Details in how much is an opal worth and opal colours at a glance.
Check the construction first
Before you think about value: look at the side edge. A dead straight line means a doublet or triplet, in other words glued layers. Such stones are worth considerably less than solid opals and usually cannot be reset either. How to spot this reliably is in doublet and triplet.
When is an appraisal worth it?
Worth it
For heirlooms of unknown origin, for dark stones with strong fire, before a sale and for household insurance.
Usually not worth it
For small pale stones from costume jewellery and for obvious doublets. Here the cost of the appraisal often exceeds the value.
A sound appraisal always states: construction, body tone, measurements and weight, a description of the play of colour, any indications of treatment, and a reasoned value with a date. If one of these is missing, it is an opinion, not an appraisal.
Estimated value or buying price: which applies?
Three figures that are regularly confused and lie far apart.
Insurance value
What an equivalent replacement would cost in the trade. The highest of the three figures.
Market value
What a private buyer realistically pays. Sits well below the insurance value.
Buying price
What a dealer offers. He has to resell the stone, so this price sits lower again.
How do you recognise a reputable buyer?
He explains the price
A reputable buyer tells you why: body tone, play of colour, construction. Anyone who only names a figure has something to hide.
He gives you time
Pressure is the most common warning sign. A genuine stone does not lose value if you sleep on it for a night.
He puts it in writing
A description of the stone and the offer on paper. Verbal promises are worthless later.
You get a second offer
Because opal has no daily rate, offers vary more than they do for gold. Two opinions are the minimum.
Please note: We do not buy stones and we do not issue appraisals. If you want to know what good goods look like, comparison helps: our range shows how play of colour and body tone look on checked stones.
What to do before the first offer
Get at least two assessments before you sell, and have each one put in writing. Photograph the stone from both sides in daylight beforehand. If someone quotes you a price over the phone without having seen the stone, that is not an offer but an anchor. And never hand over your stone before you have made up your mind.
Common questions about establishing value
How do I have an opal valued?
Through a gemmologist or a gemstone laboratory. A sound appraisal describes construction, body tone, measurements, weight, play of colour and possible treatments, and gives a reasoned value with a date.
What does an opal appraisal cost?
That depends on the effort involved and on the provider. For small pale stones the cost often exceeds the value of the stone, so it is usually not worth it.
Why does a dealer offer less than the estimated value?
Because insurance value, market value and buying price are three different figures. The dealer has to resell the stone and factors in his margin.
Can I estimate the value myself?
Roughly yes. You can judge body tone, liveliness, the share of colours and the construction without equipment, and they make up the greater part of the value.
Is an old opal worth more?
Not automatically. Age alone does not raise the value; the quality of the stone remains decisive.
Does an opal lose value over time?
Not through age, but through condition. Scratches, dulled surfaces and, in doublets, moisture that has seeped in reduce the value considerably.
If you are unsure or have questions, you are welcome to contact us at any time, even if you did not buy the opal from us. Contact form, email cs@libertyangels.de or call +49 171 1603048.
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by Liberty Angels
Only natural, genuine opals. Each certificate is linked online to your order, so it is tamper-proof.
Written by Anton Kehler
Gründer FAERELLI & Liberty Angels
