Opal

No two opals are alike, which is precisely the point: each stone is a one-off the earth will not repeat. This collection includes the connoisseur's rarity, hyalite opal, water-clear glass that ignites neon green under UV light.

Natural Welo Smoked Opal 1.41 ct – Oval Faceted Cut

2.624,00 CZK

Natural Welo Opal 4.27 ct – Cabochon, Smoked

5.476,00 CZK

Natural Welo Opal 10.20 ct – Oval Cabochon, Untreated

7.514,00 CZK

Natural Welo Opal 2.60 ct – Oval Cabochon, Untreated

7.514,00 CZK

The online selection is only part of our sourcing reach.

Certain gemstones are acquired individually for clients and never appear in public collections.

Enquire about a stone you don’t see here

About This Gemstone

Opal is hydrated silica, a gem built from microscopic spheres and a few percent of water, and that structure makes it the least standardized stone in the trade: every opal is a singular object. The famous play-of-color, shifting flashes across the stone, appears when the silica spheres are stacked regularly enough to diffract light; opals without it, the common opals, trade on body color and character instead. The species is profiled in Opal: The Mystical Gem of Light.

The quiet star of this collection is hyalite opal, and it deserves introduction: water-clear, colorless opal that looks like a drop of glass in daylight and ignites a neon green glow under ultraviolet light, caused by trace uranyl in the structure at levels safe to wear. Collectors of the unusual rank fine hyalite among the most distinctive opals in existence, and it photographs like nothing else in the case.

Opal asks for informed ownership, and we state the rules rather than let them surprise: at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale with natural water content, opal prefers pendants and earrings, protective settings on rings, no ultrasonic cleaners, and no long sessions in direct heat or dry display cases. The full routine is in Gemstone Care.

Treatment status matters in a species where the wider market includes stabilized and composite material, and we state on every listing what the stone is, per the standards in What Is a Natural Gemstone? Every opal ships with the Sosna Gems Colored Stone Report, and independent laboratory certification can be arranged on request.

Opal is the October stone in the birthstone tradition, and for a setting designed around a particular stone, the right path for a gem this individual, see bespoke jewelry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is opal?

Opal is hydrated silica, built from microscopic spheres with a few percent of natural water. When the spheres stack regularly, they diffract light into the shifting flashes known as play-of-color; common opals trade on body color instead.

What is hyalite opal?

Hyalite is water-clear, colorless opal that glows neon green under ultraviolet light, caused by trace uranyl at levels safe to wear. Fine hyalite is a connoisseur's rarity and one of the most distinctive opals in existence.

Is the UV glow of hyalite safe?

Yes. The trace uranyl responsible for the fluorescence is present at levels safe for wear, and the glow appears only under UV light. In daylight the stone reads as a flawless drop of glass.

Are opals treated?

The wider market includes stabilized and composite opals, which is why we state on every listing exactly what the stone is. Our stones are natural opal with any treatment disclosed plainly.

How is opal quality evaluated?

In play-of-color opals: the coverage, brightness, and pattern of the color flashes. In common and hyalite opals: purity, transparency, and character. In every case the stone is judged as an individual, not against a grading chart.

Is opal durable enough for daily wear?

Opal measures 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and contains natural water, so it belongs in pendants and earrings by preference and in protective ring settings for occasional wear.

How should I care for an opal?

Clean with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth. No ultrasonic cleaners, no prolonged heat or dry display environments, and no solvents. Treated with that respect, opal lasts generations.

What documentation comes with a stone?

Every opal ships with the Sosna Gems Colored Stone Report, our internal documentation. Independent laboratory certification can be arranged on request for any stone.

Can you source an opal beyond the visible selection?

Yes. Opals are individuals, and finding the right one is a sourcing task we take on gladly. Contact us with the type and character you are looking for.

Sosna Gems is not a licensed financial advisor. Gemstones are collectibles, not securities. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Legal & risk disclosure .