Why do opals vary so much in price ?
Quality of stones is the easy answer.
Opals are often triplets or doublets, you will co into a lot of centres and see normally silver jewellery with bright fiery blue opals these are reconstituted, ill explain.
single natural dug stone like in picture , this is a natural stone dug form rock and then made into a cabochon , domed stone , this has natural light and fire .
Doublet , of these are done for blue or black opal ,by putting a black backing on the stone add fire depth to the blue.
Triplet same but very thin layer of opal with 2 more layer of colour to improve the look .
Finally reconstituted stones these are ground up tiny shards of opal added to resin to look like a natural stone.
Perhaps you get what you pay for , however antiques trade is very contrary just because expensive doesn't mean good and vice a versa, this brooch is £100 gold and antique single natural 3 carat opal , to quote a famous antiques dealer "cheap as chips", where as a lot of places will have cabinets full of reconstituted opals at £50 to £100 , and these will be brand new , assume made in china copies to look like the real thing.
Oh it so confusing i here you say , not really buy from a trusted source , get a receipt if doubtful get stones checked , we at Top Banana Antiques Mall guarantee all our online items , we test all our stones and will not knowingly sell anything misdescribed and if we make an error we will rectify with a no quibble refund
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