Opal
Date - Pricing as of April 2008

Color: Orange, orange/red, yellow, gold, brown/orange, pink, blue and other colors.

There are many types of Opal. Basically there is Opal with "fire" and just colored Opal (no fire).

In general, fire Opal is cabbed or carved and seldom faceted, although it can be faceted. Any type of fire Opal faceted would be a one of a kind unique stone and subject to collector pricing.

Colored Opal comes from many places and in many colors. Opal can be opaque to translucent to clear. Usually for faceting the translucent to clear colored material is used. For carving any type of Opal is used.

Note: Pricing on faceted Opal basically depends on the piece and how good a quality the color and clarity are. The brighter and more the clarity the more the cost. The most common faceting Opal is either Mexican Jelly Opal (pictured) or some orange, orange/yellow to orange/brown material found in Oregon.

Pale (almost colorless to 15% tone) - Pale to light.
Comments - This material actually can be valuable, especially when cut into a large spectacular design.
Pricing - In general pricing this material is more about cutting labor than any thing else. I generally price this material $24/ct to $36/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light (15% tone to 30%) - Light, some times with an orange or yellow tint.
Comments - This material actually is valuable and I sell it faceted quite well, especially when cut into a large spectacular design.
Pricing - Pricing this material is still about labor. I generally price this material $24/ct to $36/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light/Medium (30% tone to 45%) - Orange and some times with a red/brown secondary color, usually starting to become more intense in the color ranges.
Comments - This material is valuable and not always easy to acquire. I cut this material in the medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. I generally price this material $36/ct to $48/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium (45% tone to 65%) - Orange color and deeper red secondary color, some times yellow or brown, more intense in the color ranges with good life.
Comments - This material is valuable and not always easy to acquire. I cut this material in the smaller to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. I generally price this material $36/ct to $54/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium/Dark (65% tone to 85%) - Very intense gold/orange/red/brown color but still light enough to distinguish the facet and light patterns in the design of the finished stone.
Comments - This material is valuable and difficult to find. I cut this material in the smaller to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs.
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. I generally price this material $46/ct to $72/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Dark (85% tone to 100%) - This material is around, usually very dark orange/brown. But I seldom cut any thing this dark.
Comments - The best use for this material is small (melee) stones so that the color will show. I almost never cut this material, unless I heat it and lighten it first.
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. Basically once heated and lightened then I would price in the according saturation and color range..

Special - As we all know as cutters some times a stone just comes out "special" for what ever reason. On these kinds of stones I basically price how ever I feel like. Because this stone comes under the "special" category I often do not care if I sell the stone or not. So I usually price it high enough that if I do sell it, I get a very good price. Enough to make me say "Oh well..." and sell it. So be aware that some times I just price a stone high because I do not care if I sell it. Ironically these stones usually sell the fastest...

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com