Stunning 2.5ct solid Australian Opal

A few thoughts on buying Opals on ebay, first of all make sure that the seller states whether or not there are cracks in it because a cracked Opal is worthless, scratches are not really a problem because they can be easily polished out. Second look to see if the Opal has a good play of color and does it sparkle in natural sunlight, third a solid opal is worth more than a doublet or triplet. These are all good signs of a quality Opal.

Caring for your Opal
It has roughly a hardness the same as glass so it can be scratched fairly easily, Do not heat it up or drop on a hard surface ie tiles etc, avoid cleaning with chemicals just warm soapy water will do just fine. They can be polished up with a piece of felt and some cerium oxide, Do not use abrasive kitchen cleaners.
Many people believe solid opals can be damaged by water - however, this only applies to doublets and triplets. Solid opals are fine in water. In fact, most precious opals contain about 5-6% water. As a result, opal may crack if subjected to very dry conditions or rapid changes in temperature. Try to avoid very high temperatures or low humidity extremes, such as boiling water or zero humidity bank vaults.
Doublets & Triplets - Caring for doublets or triplets is a little different to caring for solid opals. Because doublets and triplets consist of multiple layers glued together, prolonged exposure to water will eventually cause lifting between the layers and the infiltration of water. A doublet or triplet will take on a 'foggy' or grey appearance if this happens. This does not mean your opal will be ruined if you wear it in the shower once, or are caught in the rain. It takes prolonged exposure to cause water damage to a doublet or triplet.

Cleaning Your Opal