स्निग्धः प्रभानुलेपी स्वच्छोऽर्चिष्मान् गुरुः सुसंस्थानः । अन्तःप्रभोऽतिरागो मणिरत्नगुणाः समस्तानाम् ॥
Lustrous, suffused with radiance, clear, shining, substantial, well formed, deeply coloured and illuminated from within—these are the qualities of a fine gemstone.
Varāhamihira, Bṛhatsaṃhitā, Chapter 81, verse 3Choose a Opal
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View Jewellery →How We Select Every Opal
Opal is a natural gemstone formed from
hydrated silica. Its colours do not remain still: they appear, disappear and
change as the gemstone or light moves.
A Moraebi opal is selected for natural
play-of-colour, visible life and a structure suited to the jewel it will
become. Its colour, pattern, stability, recommended weight and price are
explained clearly before you choose.
1. An Ancient Standard of Beauty
Historical Indian gemstone names cannot
be matched confidently with modern opal. The Bṛhatsaṃhitā names
gemstones such as pulaka and vimala, but their precise mineral
identities remain uncertain. Moraebi will not present either word as an ancient
Sanskrit name for opal without sufficient evidence.
The text does, however, preserve a wider
standard for judging a fine gemstone:
स्निग्धः
प्रभानुलेपी स्वच्छोऽर्चिष्मान् गुरुः सुसंस्थानः ।
अन्तःप्रभोऽतिरागो मणिरत्नगुणाः समस्तानाम् ॥ ८१.३॥
Snigdhaḥ prabhānulepī svaccho’rciṣmān
guruḥ susaṃsthānaḥ;
antaḥprabho’tirāgo maṇiratnaguṇāḥ samastānām.
“Lustrous, suffused with radiance, clear,
shining, substantial, well formed, deeply coloured and illuminated from
within—these are the qualities of a fine gemstone.”
— Varāhamihira, Bṛhatsaṃhitā,
Chapter 81, verse 3
Opal gives “light from within” an
unusually literal presence. Its flashes are created by the arrangement of
microscopic silica spheres, which separate light into spectral colours. The
effect is called play-of-colour. GIA
explains opal’s structure and colour.
2. The Astrological Standard for Opal
For astrological jewellery, the gemstone
and recommended ratti are determined by your astrologer. Moraebi does not
prescribe opal, change the recommended weight or replace another gemstone with
opal unless your astrologer has permitted it as a substitute.
Not every natural opal displays
play-of-colour. Precious opal shows moving spectral colour; common
opal does not. A gemstone can be natural opal without displaying the colour
effect generally expected from an astrological opal.
Natural opal may contain small cavities,
colourless areas, potch, matrix and variations in transparency. These features
belong to its formation. They should be described rather than automatically
treated as flaws.
Moraebi accepts natural variation. We
avoid opals showing crazing—a network of fine cracks caused by internal
stress or moisture loss—along with unstable fractures, weak edges or damage
that could make the stone unsuitable for continuous wear.
We also examine how much of the face
displays colour, how brightly the colours appear, whether they remain visible
from different angles and whether the pattern feels balanced across the
gemstone.
3. The Colour Must Be Natural. Never Treated.
Opal may show flashes of red, orange,
yellow, green, blue or violet against white, translucent, grey, brown or dark
body colour. Its value is influenced by the strength, range, pattern and
coverage of this play-of-colour—not by one colour alone.
Moraebi selects only solid, natural
opals with no evidence of treatment.
Opal may be treated with smoke or sugar
to darken its body and create stronger contrast. Oil, wax, resin or plastic may
be introduced to improve appearance or conceal fractures. Dye may alter body
colour. Moraebi does not accept these treatments. GIA records impregnation, sugar treatment and smoke
treatment among recognised opal enhancements.
A doublet is a thin layer of
natural opal attached to a dark backing. A triplet adds a transparent
protective cap. These may contain natural opal, but they are assembled
products—not solid natural gemstones. Moraebi does not use doublets or triplets
for astrological jewellery.
Synthetic opal can reproduce
play-of-colour in a laboratory. Glass and plastic can also imitate opal. They
may look lively, but they have not shared the gemstone’s natural formation and
are never used by Moraebi as astrological opal.
Every Moraebi opal is independently
certified. Its report belongs to the exact gemstone you receive.
4. From Earth-Formed Rough to Opal, Cut in Jaipur
Moraebi sources natural opal rough
through established and trusted suppliers and gets it cut by experienced Jaipur
lapidaries.
Opal must be studied carefully before
cutting. The lapidary follows the layer carrying the strongest colour,
preserves the recommended ratti and positions the pattern where it can remain
visible in the finished jewel.
The aim is not simply to create a
larger-looking stone. The cut must retain sufficient depth, avoid weak areas
and reveal colour across the face of the opal.
Opal contains water within its structure
and measures approximately 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It can scratch, chip or
develop fine fractures when exposed to sharp impact, strong heat, sudden
temperature changes or excessive dryness. GIA’s
opal guide explains crazing and the importance of stability.
Moraebi’s protective bezel settings are
designed to support the opal through continuous wear. The setting protects its
edges, but no setting can make opal unaffected by impact, chemicals or heat.
With time, its surface may gradually show
the signs of a life lived. Clean it only with mild soap, lukewarm water and a
soft cloth. Avoid steam, ultrasonic cleaning, harsh chemicals and sudden
temperature changes. If the jewel is struck against a hard surface, connect
with us so that we can inspect it.
Careful cleaning and checking of your
Moraebi setting remain complimentary. You may return to us whenever your jewel
needs attention.
5. See Your Opal Before You Choose
During a video consultation, we show you
the actual shortlisted opals while moving them through natural light. Together,
we compare their:
●
Body colour
●
Range and brightness of
play-of-colour
●
Pattern and colour coverage
●
Transparency and natural features
●
Structural condition
●
Exact carat and ratti
●
Certificate
●
Individual price
You may reserve a few opals while seeking
the opinion of your astrologer, family or trusted friends. We answer your
questions, show how each gemstone changes with movement and give you time to
make an informed decision.
Only after you have selected your opal do
we begin designing your jewel.
Natural in origin. Untreated in
colour. Cut to reveal its light. Chosen with you.
Unlike most gemstones, it does not have a conventional crystal structure.
Its appearance can range from milky white and translucent to orange, brown, grey or nearly black.
Some opals reveal flashes of changing spectral colour as the stone or light moves. This phenomenon is called play-of-colour.
No two natural opals arrange their colour in precisely the same way.
The size and arrangement of the spheres determine which colours appear and how they move.
Blue and green are relatively common; vivid orange and red require different structural conditions and are generally rarer.
The colour is produced within the opal—not painted onto its surface.
Gemologically, opal is divided into two broad categories:
● Precious opal displays play-of-colour.
● Common opal does not display play-of-colour.
Common opal can still have beautiful natural body colour, translucency and pattern.
Fire opal, for example, is valued for its yellow, orange or red body colour and may or may not show play-of-colour.
Moraebi identifies the variety clearly rather than describing every natural opal as a rainbow-coloured precious opal.
● The brightness of its colour
● How much of the surface displays colour
● The range of colours present
● Whether the colour remains visible from several angles
● The arrangement or pattern of the flashes
● Its background colour and transparency
● Areas without play-of-colour
● Crazing, fractures, pits or surface damage
● The thickness and structure of the opal
Vivid, well-distributed play-of-colour—especially including red—can make an opal exceptionally valuable.
An accessible opal may show softer colour, fewer hues, smaller flashes or areas without play-of-colour.
These differences should influence its price, not be hidden behind exaggerated descriptions.
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● Black opal has a dark background against which play-of-colour can appear particularly vivid.
● White or light opal has a white or pale background with play-of-colour.
● Crystal opal is transparent to semitransparent, allowing colour to appear suspended within it.
● Fire opal has a yellow, orange or red body colour and may or may not display play-of-colour.
● Boulder opal forms in thin seams within its host rock and is cut with part of that natural rock attached.
“Black opal” should refer to the gemstone’s body tone—not automatically to an opal that has been artificially darkened.
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● Pinfire — small, closely placed points of colour
● Flash — broader areas that appear suddenly as the stone moves
● Flame — elongated, sweeping flashes
● Mosaic or harlequin — larger, angular patches of colour
Pattern names can help describe appearance, but they are sometimes used loosely.
A rare-sounding label should not replace examination of the actual stone.
Moraebi shows the opal in motion so that you can see its real colour coverage rather than relying on a pattern name.
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Natural opal may contain remnants of its host rock, colourless areas, cloudy zones, pits and irregular internal features.
In boulder opal, the natural ironstone matrix is intentionally retained as part of the gemstone.
These features can record how the opal formed and make every stone individual.
However, cracks require a different conversation from harmless natural pattern.
A network of fine cracks called crazing can weaken an opal and may continue to develop.
Moraebi distinguishes natural character from structural damage and does not disguise the difference as “inclusion.”
It may develop when an opal loses moisture or experiences heat, excessive dryness or sudden environmental change.
Crazing is not a desirable proof of natural origin.
A crazed opal has reduced durability and should not be presented as suitable for a jewel intended for uninterrupted wear.
Moraebi examines opals for existing fractures and instability before selection. No responsible seller can promise that every opal will remain permanently unchanged, but an existing durability concern must be disclosed before purchase.
Much of the opal mined in Ethiopia’s Wollo region has this property.
When hydrophane opal becomes wet, its transparency, body colour and play-of-colour may temporarily change.
It can take hours or days to return to its previous appearance.
Liquids containing soap, oil, perfume or colour can leave residues or be absorbed into the stone.
Hydrophane opal can be natural and beautiful, but its porosity is particularly important when the astrological jewel is intended never to be removed.
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A bezel can protect an opal from impact, but no metal setting can prevent a porous stone from absorbing bathwater, soap, oil or household liquids.
Continuous exposure may temporarily alter its appearance, and some hydrophane material can carry a greater risk of cracking.
For a jewel that must remain on through bathing, sleep, work and daily activity, Moraebi must consider the opal’s stability and porosity—not merely its colour and price.
Where uninterrupted wear is essential, a sound, solid, comparatively stable opal is the more responsible choice.
If the available stone is hydrophane, that fact should be explained before purchase so you and your astrologer can decide whether it is appropriate.
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An opal doublet contains a thin layer of precious opal cemented to a dark backing. The backing strengthens the thin layer and can make its colour appear more vivid.
An opal triplet contains a very thin layer of opal between a dark backing and a transparent glass or quartz cap.
Doublets and triplets are legitimate jewellery materials when disclosed and priced accordingly, but they are assembled products—not solid opals. Water entering between their layers can damage the adhesive and cause separation.
Moraebi does not allow an assembled opal to be mistaken for a solid natural opal.
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Synthetic opal is manufactured in a laboratory with an internal structure designed to reproduce play-of-colour.
Glass, plastic and foil-based materials can also imitate opal’s appearance.
A synthetic opal is not the same as an imitation: synthetic opal has broadly similar composition and optical behaviour to natural opal, while an imitation only copies its appearance.
Neither should be sold as a naturally formed opal.
Correct identification requires more than seeing rainbow colour in a photograph.
● Dyeing to alter the body colour
● Smoke treatment to create a darker background
● Sugar-and-acid treatment to darken porous material
● Oil, resin or polymer impregnation
● Fracture or cavity filling
● Surface coating
● Backing or assembly into a doublet or triplet
These processes can intensify colour, conceal fractures or imitate a more valuable variety.
A treated opal may still contain natural opal, but the treatment must be disclosed.
For an astrological recommendation requiring a natural, untreated gemstone, solid, natural and untreated must each be confirmed separately.
● An intensely coloured “black opal” is unexpectedly inexpensive
● A bright pink, purple or blue body colour is offered without treatment disclosure
● Every stone in a parcel has an identical pattern
● A very thin opal is shown only from above
● The side and underside of the gemstone are concealed
● The description does not state whether it is solid, doublet or triplet
● “Natural” is used without addressing treatment
● The colour appears dramatic in photographs but disappears in ordinary light
None of these observations alone proves deception.
They are reasons to ask better questions and examine the actual gemstone carefully.
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Australia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil and several other regions produce natural opal. Each source can yield a wide range of appearances and quality.
Origin can affect market history, rarity, porosity and price, but it does not replace individual assessment.
An Australian name does not guarantee brilliant play-of-colour, and an Ethiopian origin does not automatically mean an opal is unstable or treated.
The actual stone must be evaluated for colour, pattern, structure, treatment and suitability for the intended jewel.
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Opal prices extend from accessible natural stones to rare examples worth several lakhs per carat.
An accessible opal may have:
● Predominantly blue or green play-of-colour
● Smaller or more scattered flashes
● Softer brightness
● Fewer visible colours
● A lighter body tone
● Areas without play-of-colour
● A more commercial cut or size
These are visible quality differences—not reasons to make the stone sound inferior. Moraebi prices the individual opal according to what it genuinely offers and helps you see the difference before choosing.
Investment-grade rarity and a personal gemstone chosen for continuous companionship are not always the same purchase.
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Opal is less dense than many gemstones, so it can appear relatively large for its weight.
Two opals of equal ratti can differ greatly in dimensions, colour, pattern, thickness and price.
A thin opal may look broad from the top but offer less material and durability than a well-proportioned stone.
If your astrologer has recommended a particular weight range, Moraebi filters within that range and then helps you compare the actual appearance, construction and stability of the available opals.
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● Whether the material is natural or synthetic opal
● Whether it is precious or common opal
● Whether it is a solid stone or an assembled product
● Detectable treatment, impregnation or colour modification
● The gemstone’s weight and measurements
Not every report provides geographic origin, and origin should not be assumed from appearance.
A certificate identifies and describes the material.
It does not tell you whether the opal’s colour moves beautifully, whether you connect with it or whether it is appropriate for continuous wear.
Moraebi considers those questions separately.
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Moraebi does not prescribe opal or replace your astrologer.
Bring us the exact recommendation: gemstone, minimum carat or ratti, acceptable variety, metal, jewellery form, finger, skin-contact requirement and whether any substitute has been permitted.
This is particularly important because “opal” can describe precious or common opal, and because some traditions recommend it as an alternative to another gemstone.
Moraebi does not make that substitution without your astrologer’s approval.
Traditional astrological beliefs are not presented as scientifically guaranteed outcomes.
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Opal ranges from approximately 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.
It can scratch, and a hard blow can chip or fracture it.
Heat, sudden temperature change and severe dryness can also affect some opals.
Moraebi selects a structurally sound stone and builds a sturdy, low-profile bezel around its vulnerable perimeter.
This makes the jewel more practical and protects it from many everyday knocks, but it cannot make opal indestructible or change the behaviour of hydrophane material.
Avoid deliberately banging the jewel against hard surfaces.
If an accidental impact occurs—or you notice a new line, looseness, chip or lasting change in appearance—connect with us promptly.
Continuous wear can gradually leave fine surface marks or soften the polish.
Opal’s appearance may also respond to its environment, particularly when the material is hydrophane.
A gemstone worn continuously may gradually carry traces of a life lived.
This is not a jewel kept untouched—it is one made to accompany you.
Moraebi’s craftsmanship warranty supports the integrity of the setting and jewel.
It cannot promise that a natural opal worn continuously will never show age or accidental damage.
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A stable solid opal can be cleaned gently with a damp, soft cloth and, when appropriate, mild soapy water. Hydrophane opal should not be deliberately soaked.
Doublets and triplets must not be immersed because liquid can enter between the joined layers.
Never use steam, ultrasonic cleaning, strong chemicals, high heat or abrupt temperature changes.
Moraebi provides complimentary careful cleaning and setting checks for life.
You may return at any time, especially after an impact or if the gemstone’s appearance changes.
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● Precious or common opal
● Solid, boulder, doublet or triplet construction
● Body colour and play-of-colour
● Brightness, pattern and colour coverage
● Exact carat and ratti weight
● Origin, when supported
● Hydrophane character, when relevant
● Visible inclusions, crazing or fractures
● Treatment disclosure
● Certificate details
● Individual price
● Suitability for continuous wear
You may reserve a few opals and seek opinions from your astrologer, family or trusted friends before selecting the stone and design.
Moraebi will not rush your decision.
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For continuous astrological wear, Moraebi uses a sturdy bezel and practical setting height to protect the opal while allowing its colour to remain visible.
The completed setting is inspected before delivery.
Moraebi’s craftsmanship warranty continues after purchase, with complimentary setting inspections and careful professional cleaning for life.
The purpose is not to claim that opal is invulnerable.
It is to select honestly, design intelligently and remain available throughout the life of the jewel.