Opal engagement ring
For example, opal and diamond engagement rings, which have an opal center stone and several diamond accents, will cost more than rings with an opal center gem and cubic zirconia side stones. Let’s not forget the presence of any side stone in the ring design, which can also influence how much you’ll pay for your opal engagement ring. In fact, you can find some really gorgeous opal engagement rings at much better prices than gold ones. However, that doesn’t make it any less durable or beautiful. Sterling silver rings, which are made from 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, tend to be far more affordable because silver isn’t considered a precious metal per se. Opal engagement rings can be made from white, yellow or rose gold, ranging from 10K to 18K. Whereas 14K gold contains only 58% pure gold, 18K gold contains 75% pure gold and 24K gold is 100% pure gold - hence the difference in price. Rings crafted from 18K or even 24K gold will be significantly pricier because the quality of gold is also higher.
Of course, the greater the gold quality, the more expensive the ring. 14K gold is considered ‘the norm’ for engagement rings, offering excellent quality at a reasonable price point. The cost will vary depending on the type of metal used for the ring.Īs you’d expect, platinum rings tend to be the priciest, so they might not be an option if you’re on a budget. Next on the list is the craftsmanship quality of your opal engagement ring.
Opals with blemishes and inclusions (such as pits) are considered lower-quality and thus will cost less compared to eye-clean and blemish-free ones. This also offers a bargain opportunity between the type of opal and its play of color, as you might be able to compromise on the percentage or intensity of the colors for a more valuable opal variety or a bigger center stone. The greater the percentage of play-of-color, the pricier the ring. Moreover, the percentage of play-of-color versus background color can make a difference to the quality - and price - of the piece. The brighter and more vivid the colors, the more expensive the ring. The intensity of the colors will also influence how much the ring will cost. If you’re on a budget and looking to save on your engagement ring, then a white opal center stone will give you better value for your money. While light or white opal engagement rings tend to be more affordable, black opal ones are significantly pricier because they’re rare and far more beautiful. The type of opal will have the biggest impact on the actual price. The first factor to consider when shopping for opal engagement rings is the quality of the opal center stone. We'll explore each of them in more detail below. The cost of opal rings depends on three main factors: opal quality, craftsmanship quality (i.e. Boulder opal can be light or black, and it has a tendency to cleave, leaving two faces with a highly polished finish. It is also known as Australian opal because it mainly occurs over a wide area of Western Queensland.
The play of color tends to be more distinguishable as well because of the striking contrast with the darker base tone. Black opals aren’t actually black instead, they have a darker base tone compared to white opals. While the term “black opal” might suggest a black gemstone, that isn’t the case. Black opal : This is the most valued variety of opal and it’s typically found in the Lightning Ridge.Because of its relatively light base tone, white opal doesn’t show colors as vividly as other opal varieties, such as black opal. It has a light base tone ranging from colorless to milky white and sometimes even medium gray. Light opal: Also known as white opal, this is the most common opal variety and is also the most commonly used in opal jewelry.There are many different types of natural opal and we’ll give you a brief overview of the most popular varieties below: