Opal Values
Please note: Sadly, due to the ill health of the author, the SMART CHART is no longer available. However, please visit www.opalmine.com encyclopedia for an ongoing discussion of opal types and values.
This is a very difficult subject. Here is an article that reveals just how difficult it is to now the value of opal, but thanks to the ingenuity of some opal dealers, we now have something that Jewelers and Hobbyists can use on their computers to get a more accurate picture. Send Peter an email if you want to know more about it peter@opalmine.com
Opal Smart Chart
The Opal Smart chart is the world’s first Opal appraisal software! It generates an accurate and up to
date dollar value for any variety of Australian Opal.
The program asks a series of fully illustrated questions relating to the characteristics of the opal being
appraised – a simple mouse click on the relevant photograph in each question is all that is required to
generate the value of your Opal.
The printout Certificate lists all questions and their answers along with value of the Opal in either
wholesale or retail terms, as required.
The Opal Smart Chart was developed by opal dealers over a 40 years Opal Industry experience. It is in
use with Appraisers, Retailers, Miners, Cutters and gemologists worldwide.
All terminology used conforms to the CIBJO (World Jewelry Confederation) official Opal Nomenclature.
In addition to providing an opal appraisal & valuation tool the Opal Smart chart also has a
comprehensive information section on opal. Hundreds of superb ( enlargeable ) photographs of opal
varieties and an extensive help section are provided
There is a 30 day money back policy if not satisfied with the product. It may be run 20 times prior to
registration and can be returned within this period. However once registered no refund will be provided.
Specifications and operation: The Australian Opal Values guide comes on a CD designed to be run in a
Windows environment Win98 or later including Windows 2000, XP. (Please note there is no Mac version
available at this stage). A computer with CD reader and hard disk capacity with minimum of 90MB free is
required. Setup is automated when the disk is loaded.
August 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Till now i have neglected to inform you of the new opal nomenclature that has come as a result of years of research and consultation with those who have been in the opal industry for a long time. A ‘nomenclature’ to speak in every day language is just a system of naming all the aspects of something. It defines the item. Paste http://www.opalmine.com/pdf/opalnomenclture.pdf into your browser for a full summary of this subject compliments of http://www.opalmine.com
April 4, 2010 at 11:51 am
Hello
I create pictures in opal using gem grade triplet slices. In order to value each picture I need to know how much a carat the opal is currently.
Thank you.
April 4, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Jennifer, a very difficult question. The only way you can work that out is to start from the beginning. If you did the slices yourself from a piece of crystal opal rough, you should have weighed the rough before cutting, then weigh the amount of slices you got our of it after cutting, then divide the amount of slices into what it cost you. then you would be able to determine its cost and your profit would go on top of that. slices of opal are not valued in carats, only solid opals that are cut from rough. As a rough guide though, please take a look here: http://www.opalmine.com/opal-brooches/165-6738.html This gold and silver plated turtle sells for around $100. of course these stones are produced enmass so its different to making a work of art from the slices. just leave a message in the contact form at http://www.opalmine.com if you need further help. best wishes Jennifer. Peter
April 5, 2010 at 7:47 am
Thank you Peter. This certainly gives me a better idea. I don’t understand why the opal of this nature cannot be measured in carat weight. It is gem opal and I do need to provide the information on each piece I create and the usual way with opal is by carat weight. I weigh the opal before I start the work and again when I have finished, this gives me the carat weight. I have noticed on some of the auction sites when triplets are sold that there are carat weights displayed. Confusing isn’t it!!!
Anyway, thank you Peter.
April 5, 2010 at 8:55 am
Jennifer, usually only solid opals, or maybe sometimes doublet opals are valued by carat. Triplets and mosaics are always valued per stone because they are not completely natural. However, this is not to say that you cannot do it. If you want, you can decide what you want to charge for the finished item based on the art value of it. There is no real guideline for this. Artists charge what they like. It’s up to the public to decide whether the value is acceptable or not. If you like, to create a more valuable atmosphere you can show the carat weights as well as the stone size. No problems with that.
April 5, 2010 at 9:17 am
Thank you again Peter. Your comments are appreciated. I buy the opal already sliced. I then have to select only gem grade material for use in my work. Is it possible to advise on a dollar value on the carat weight I should apply ?
January 4, 2011 at 10:56 am
Hello Peter, i have recently discovered my childhood collection of white and black opals, there are nine in total ranging from the size of a pea to a golf ball, all are rough stones and have never been valued, after reading your article, i am keen to talk with you. kind regards Craig.
January 4, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Hi craig. sounds like you have some nice opals there. Best idea is to get some good pics of them first. let me know if you need some help doing this. I will email you and we can talk direct about it. Opal is not an easy stone to photograph. Peter
January 26, 2011 at 9:10 pm
I would like to know if it would be accurate to use the same valuation process for Ethiopian as you would Australian Opal.
January 27, 2011 at 4:30 am
Mike i just sent you an email about this but for everyone’s benefit, opal brilliance is basically the same the world over and could be valued the same except that most opal outside Australia has proved to be insecure and if the opal doesnt crack in the cutting process, usually does later. There are opals in Australia which do the same thing. But if someone has found opals elsewhere that are proved to be secure after testing over a long period of time, these could be valued in the same way as Australian opal, in my opinion. Thanks for the question Mike, Peter
May 8, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Hi, I would appreciate some direction in having an opal valued and then possibly polished for a pendant. I found the opal beachcombing, I’m stll quite surprised by the discovery, a great Uncle of mine used to opal mine in Cooper Pedy, sort of strange to have literally stubled across my find.
It is a white opal with green, pink and orange flecks.
Hope you can point me in the right direction. Regards Fiona J
May 27, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Hi Fiona. try to get a good picture of the opal with a macro camera and contact me direct here and i will do my best to help you. Peter
May 27, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I have inherited some black opal jewellery (a pendant and matching ring) which my grandfather mined sometime before 1922 (when he married) They are very old, as are the settings. Where can I take them to be valued? I live on the mid north coast of NSW. Thank you for any help you can give me.
May 27, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Pam, please go to http://www.opalmine.com and list your details on the contact form here: http://www.opalmine.com/contact-us/ so that we can communicate by email and i will be pleased to help you in whatever way possible. it would be a good idea to get some good macro shots of your jewelry and send me the pictures so that i can know what you have. best wishes Pam, Peter