Buying Opals Safely - What to Look For

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It's important to read as much as you can about opals so you know what you're getting, weather you're buying a gemstone or jewellery - just like any Diamond or Gemstone, it pays to be informed so you don't get stung by a bad investment! At Tremonti we will always guarantee to provide the highest-quality Opal with the best variety and range of hues in town - Karin Tremonti has years of experience as a certified Gemmologist, meaning that hand-picking a quality Opal for her clients is second-nature.

Before buying, determine whether you are looking at a doublet, a triplet, or a solid opal. Doublets & triplets consist of a very thin slice of opal, cemented onto a black backing. This causes the stone to be dark & bright in colour (the idea being to replicate the highly valuable black opal). The advantage of buying a doublet or triplet is a lower price (they are much cheaper to produce) - however the disadvantage is they may eventually be destroyed if repeatedly immersed in water. Solid Opals are therefore considered much better - they're 100% the "real thing" and are a quality, long-term investment. This is why Karin Tremonti always uses Solid Opal in her designs - her idea is always to use top-quality materials that you can wear anywhere!

Pick a stone that appeals to you! Each stone has an individual personality, much like people, so nobody can tell you what your opal should look like. Red on black is most valuable, but if you like blue, go for a blue stone!
Consider what you're going to be using the stone for. Shape and size is an important factor when considering the setting for jewellery. If you are buying a high quality stone, consider matching it with a high quality setting.
Consider the brilliance - A brilliant stone is good, no matter the colour or body tone, but you'll pay more. Stones classed as 'bright' are still beautiful, and even subdued stones can still be amazing.
Colour values - red is the most valuable, followed by orange, yellow, green, and then blue being the most common.
Certificates of Authenticity - always ask for a signed certificate of authenticity with your opal. Not only is it good for insurance purposes, and re-sale value, you are also making the dealer accountable.
Learn how opals are valued - Educate yourself on the general principles of opal valuation and compare stones. There is no 'formula' for figuring out the value of a stone, although people have tried and are still trying to formalise this process. There is no substitute for years of experience mining, cutting, and valuing stones. Buy from someone who has a good reputation, preferably someone who cuts or mines the stones themselves.
Cracks and faults - Any opal vendor worth their salt will clearly state any inclusions or faults within a stone which are visible to the naked eye. Natural inclusions and faults are OK, but don't buy a stone with cracks. If you are inspecting the stone in person, make sure it's dry, then hold it up against a lamp to inspect it for cracks. Be careful not to mistake natural formation lines in opal for cracks (eventually you will be able to tell the difference). A cracked stone is virtually worthless. The person you are buying the stone from has an obligation to make you aware of any cracks or faults in the stone before you purchase it. 

Tremonti will always let you know if there are any inclusions, but this is rarely necessary - as a Certified Gemmologist, Karin Tremonti doesn't muck around with poor quality Gemstones - she has her sights always set on the luxurious and quality.

02 6041 6310 | 638 Kiewa Street Albury NSW | WWW.TREMONTI.COM.AU