I need help finding an Opal

[Miss Sparkly]

Yesterday, DH's grandmother expressed a longing for an orange fire opal, or a white opal that giltters other colors. I know nothing about opals and was hoping PS could help me find a nice pair of earrings for around $50. I've done some ebay surifing and found a couple different pairs that seem promising, but like I said, I'm not sure what to look for so I'll have to do some research before the auction ends. Thanks!

 

[Hera]

You might want to ask in Colored Stones, but for the price, I think I would be looking for some plays of color and no crazing on the gem.

 

[yssie]

try www.opalauctions.com


like ebay and etsy it is just a market of different vendors - some promising, some undoubtedly not so, but there is information and lots to learn by pictures

 

[jstarfireb]

There are lots of places to find nice opals, but the hard part is finding a matched pair for earrings. Would you consider a pendant instead of earrings?

Fire opals and white opals with play of color are also two very different looks. In general, orange fire opals don't have play of color. Also, I'm not sure if you want faceted opals or cabs.

You could take the 2nd and 3rd from the left and turn them into earrings, and use the rest for yourself:
http://thegemtrader.com/May 10 FOpal Suite Page.htm

Barry Bridgestock at http://www.acstones.com and Dan Stair at http://www.customgemstones.com have some nice opals in their inventory right now, but none of them are matched pairs.

If it's faceted fire opals you're after, Uli at http://www.osirisgems.com cuts some nice ones.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

pendant would be great! I thought her ears were pierced but found out that she was actually wearing clip ons