No two opals are ever alike. This queen of phenomenal gems diffracts light through microscopic silica spheres, producing play-of-color — shifting flashes of green, blue, orange and red that dance as the stone moves. From Australian boulder opal with its dramatic ironstone matrix to Ethiopian crystal opal and Mexican cantera, each piece is a miniature landscape.Opal is softer than most jewelry stones (5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale) and rewards gentle settings: pendants, earrings and occasional-wear rings. It needs no faceting to shine — most opals are cut as cabochons to display their color play at its fullest.At GEMIC Institute every opal is natural, individually tested by our accredited gemologists and certified by our Siem Reap laboratory. Photos and videos in each listing show the very stone on offer — essential for a gem whose beauty is impossible to standardize. Every opal is strictly one of a kind, ships worldwide with tracking, and is covered by our 30-day inspection period. For a specific opal type or budget, ask our team.