Opal Stones

Australian Opals: Mined primarily from sedimentary deposits in Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, and Queensland, Australian opals are celebrated for their stable white, milky, or crystal body tones and dazzling multi-color play-of-color. Australian opal is generally not hydrophane, so water does not change its appearance or play-of-color.

Ethiopian Welo Opals: Discovered in the volcanic highlands of Ethiopia's Welo province, these opals exhibit remarkable clarity ranging from translucent honey to crystal white, coupled with dramatic three-dimensional play-of-color (including broad flash, honeycomb, and harlequin patterns).

The Hydrophane Characteristic: Ethiopian Welo opals are naturally hydrophane (porous). When immersed in water, they temporarily absorb moisture, which can make the stone appear temporarily transparent or alter its fire. Once removed, they slowly release the absorbed water and return to their original appearance and color play within days at room temperature. Learn more in our Opal Buying Guide.

Yes. Every Opal in our collection is a natural, solid, earth-mined stone (Type 1 Solid Opal). We never sell composite doublets (a paper-thin slice of opal backed by ironstone or plastic potch) or triplets (an opal slice capped with synthetic clear quartz or glass). Our opals are not smoked, sugar-acid treated or dyed. Every loose Opal clearly states its exact mineral variety and untreated status on its specifications and independent laboratory certificate.

Every Opal sold by Ratna Gems is individually tested and comes with a report from an independent gem testing laboratory. The certificate identifies the mineral species (Natural Opal), gemstone conclusion (Natural Opal Stone), exact carat and ratti weight, dimensions, specific gravity (about 1.98–2.25), refractive index (about 1.37–1.47), hardness (5.5–6.5 on Mohs scale), and confirms solid natural untreated status. Each report carries its own report number, which you can quote to the laboratory to check it.

Lab Report Included: Every gemstone comes with a report from an independent gem testing laboratory at no extra charge. If you specifically require an additional report from GII, IIGJ, or IGI, you can select it from the certification dropdown on the product page (official laboratory testing fees apply in advance on a non-refundable basis).

Because Opal is a hydrated amorphous silica gemstone containing 3% to 10% natural water with a hardness of 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale, proper maintenance preserves its luster and longevity:

• Avoid Harsh Chemicals & Extreme Heat: Never expose your opal to household cleaning acids, bleach, perfumes, hairsprays, or abrupt temperature spikes (such as hair dryers or boiling water), which can induce thermal shock or surface crazing.
• Hydrophane Care for Ethiopian Opals: Remove Ethiopian Welo opals before washing hands, swimming, showering, or cooking. If submerged, allow the stone to dry naturally at ambient room temperature—never dry it with artificial heat or microwaves.
• Gentle Cleaning & Storage: Clean exclusively with a soft, clean, damp microfiber cloth. Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Store your opal in a soft padded pouch separate from harder faceted gems (like Sapphires, Rubies, or Diamonds) to avoid abrasions.

For customers observing classical Indian customs, traditional literature outlines the following customary conventions:

• Customary Metals: Sterling Silver (925 Silver), White Gold, or Platinum are traditionally considered the most harmonious settings for opals.
• Traditional Placement: Customarily worn on the ring finger (Anamika) or index finger of the working hand.
• Traditional Timing: Customary traditions often observe Friday mornings during Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) at sunrise.
• Traditional Role (Upratna): Commonly named in Indian practice as an Upratna (substitute) for Diamond (Heera), associated with Venus (Shukra).