Opal. 12.3 carats. Natural Earth Mined . Dark Base. October Birthstone. 26.5 x 15.5 x 5.2. mm

Beautiful earth mined Opal .... a gem stone investment. The colors show when bright light is shone on the opal. Please read the IMPORTANT TERMS AND INFORMATION page at least once as it applies to all listings. ANY questions, please ask. 26.5 x 15.5 x 5.2. October birthday. ( if you are not sure how big this is , make certain you check measurements shown in title on a measure marked in millimeters... the standard for measuring gems.) This gem deserves a gold setting. Get one at wholesale ,now or in future .Questions? Please ask.

I have been a gemologist for decades and I am now retired and do this to raise funds for animal sanctuaries. My selling price is determined by what I had to pay, and it is always far below retail replacement value. Many were purchased years ago. The retail replacement figure is designed for bricks and mortar jewelers with high overheads.

For those that request it, I can provide my signed and sealed appraisal of $780 retail replacement for an additional $5. My estimates are considered conservative, but I have no degrees. For those preferring an independent appraisal, I have many better gems listed here that have been appraised by independent master valuer Steven Knight GG,R.M.V. , CJA-CAP.

Supply and demand rules in true gem buying as in every other human investment.
Each earth mined gem is a unique work of art, unlike the lab produced stones that can be produced in unlimited quantities.
Some people will never understand why people buy an original work of art when they can buy a poster for next to nothing.
Earth mined gems are for those that do. Invest in quality.

This is opal from the welo district of Ethiopia. Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica, with a water content of about 5 to 10 percent usually. Opals are one of my favorite gems due to their beauty. But, they must be afforded some care to maintain that beauty. About 6.5 on the moh's scale, they should not be subject to harsh abrasion, and because they absorb water caution should be exercised. If you wear them when bathing, the fire may disappear for a while , but will return as the gem dries out. However. if the water is dirty, some impurities may enter the stone....so caution should be practiced. Opal is said to inspire love and passion