Loose Opal

Gia Certified Opal

White Opal Jewelry

Ethiopian Jewellery

Loose Cabochon Gemstone

Mexican Fire Opal Gemstone

Australian Opal Jewellery

21st Century and Contemporary Ethiopian Modern Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

36.67 Carat Oval Ethiopian Opal Loose Gemstone, Natural Unmounted Opal, Merkaba

$29,800

36.67 Carat Oval Ethiopian Opal Loose Gemstone, Natural Unmounted Opal, Merkaba

By Merkaba

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

A rare and luminous 36.67 carat natural Ethiopian opal, offered loose and unmounted by Merkaba Jewelry Beverly Hills.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Ethiopian Contemporary Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal, Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold

Pear Natural Australian Black Opal 0.43 ct Loose Gemstone Jewelry Making Design

$256Sale Price|20% Off

Natural White Creamy Ethiopian Opal Pear Cabochon Loose Gemstone With Play of Color and Fire for Custom Fine Jewelry Design, Pendant or Any Other Jewelry Setting

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Ethiopian Contemporary Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal

12.00 Carat Trillion Ethiopian Opal Loose Gemstone Unmounted Merkaba Jewelry

$9,980

$399

Natural Mexican Fire Opal 5.45 Carat Emerald Cut Loose Gemstone Play-of-Color

Located in Bonita Springs, FL

Ignite your collection with the captivating brilliance of this 5.45 carat Natural Mexican Fire Opal, expertly cut into a emerald cut to maximize its radiance. Sourced from Mexico, th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Loose Gemstones

Materials

Emerald, Opal, Fire Opal

Recent Sales

13.50 carat Yellow Opal

Unavailable

H 0.46 in W 0.66 in L 0.67 in

13.50 carat Yellow Opal

Located in Ciudad De México, MX

Loose Gemstone 13.50 Carat 16.7 x 17 x 11.5 mm Fire Opal Yellow Opal unusual smooth cut.

Category

2010s Mexican Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal, Fire Opal

9.5 carat Fire Opal Lot

Unavailable

H 0.22 in W 0.33 in L 0.44 in

9.5 carat Fire Opal Lot

Located in Ciudad De México, MX

Lot of Loose Gemstones (7 pieces) 9.50 Carat in total Oval, marquise and brilliant cut stones Fire Opal Different colored opals, ranging from red, orange and yellow.

Category

2010s Mexican Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal, Fire Opal

W 0.44 in D 0.18 in L 0.79 in

7.88ct Natural Untreated Australian Boulder Opal

By Renata Bernard

Located in Sydney, AU

Australia is the birthplace of the most beautiful precious opal gemstones in the world. Fine Australian opals mesmerise with colours changing and shifting the gem moves with an unriv...

Category

2010s Australian Contemporary Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal

Natural Untreated Premium Quality 2.43ct Australian Black Opal

Unavailable

W 0.32 in D 0.16 in L 0.54 in

Natural Untreated Premium Quality 2.43ct Australian Black Opal

By Renata Bernard

Located in Sydney, AU

Australia is the birthplace of the most beautiful precious opal gemstones in the world. Fine Australian opals mesmerise with colours changing and shifting the gem moves with an unriv...

Category

2010s Australian Contemporary Loose Gemstones

Materials

Opal, Black Opal

Natural Untreated Premium Quality 2.16ct Australian Black Opal

Unavailable

Unavailable

W 0.74 in D 0.11 in L 0.35 in

3.18ct Freeform Cabochon White Opal from Australia

Located in Toronto, Ontario

Description: Gem Type: Opal Number of Stones: 1 Weight: 3.18 cts Measurements: 18.75 x 8.73 x 2.77 mm Shape: Freeform Cutting Style: Cabochon Cutting Style Crown: Cutting Style Pa...

Category

2010s Australian Loose Gemstones

Materials

Materials

Amethyst

$19,500

L 18.8 in

Genuine Persian Blue Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Diamonds 18K Gold Necklace

Located in GOES, NL

A regal giant 18 inch long handcrafted necklace with extremely rare and pure Sleeping Beauty Turquoises. This necklace features genuine and nearly flawless Robinson Egg/ Persian Blue...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

$1,700

W 0.39 in D 0.31 in L 0.43 in

6.50 Carat Natural Loose Green Tourmaline Cushion Shape Gemstone

Located in Peshawar, PK

Faceted Green Tourmaline Weight: 6.50 Carat Dimension: 10.9 x 9.7 x 7.8 Mm Colour: Green Treatment: Non Certificate: On Customer Demand Shape: Cushion Tourmaline is a captivating...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Tourmaline

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Loose Opal For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate loose opal for your needs in our varied inventory. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, 18k gold and yellow gold. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Finding the perfect loose opal may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but 1.5 carat and 2 carat versions are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic loose opal over the years, but those made by Tomasz Donocik, Alfred Philippe for Trifari and Gems and Jewels UK are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Take a look at a loose opal featuring tanzanite from our inventory today to add the perfect touch to your look. Today, if you’re looking for a cushion cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes oval cut and cabochon alternatives. Finding a loose opal for sale for women should be easy, but there are 58 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Loose Opal?

On average, a loose opal at 1stDibs sells for $2,467, while they’re typically $31 on the low end and $149,209 for the highest priced versions of this item.

The Legacy of Opal in Jewelry Design

Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.

Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)

Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!

There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.

So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.

There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).

Finding the Right Loose Gemstones for You

Are you shopping for diamonds and other loose gemstones to create your own custom jewelry?

Why might you purchase a diamond or gemstone “loose” — that is, on its own, not mounted in a piece of jewelry? Perhaps you’re a connoisseur looking to acquire a unique investment. The scarcity of high-quality colored diamonds, for instance, especially pink diamonds, means that their value increases over time; the same is true of rare Kashmir sapphires and Burmese rubies. Far rarer than diamonds, Paraiba tourmaline, discovered only in the 1980s, is treasured as much for its extraordinary color as its scarcity, both of which contribute to its high value.

A more common scenario would be that you’re hoping to create a very special piece of custom jewelry, such as an engagement ring or a milestone-birthday present, and want to personally select the most beautiful, unusual, or ultra-rare stone you can find and afford. Doing so adds to the romance and substance of the gift and can be a part of the story told as the jewel is passed from generation to generation.

If this sounds like you, read on for tips on becoming one of the world’s savviest gem hunters.

Educate yourself: When buying any piece of gem-set fine jewelry, you should familiarize yourself with the factors that determine a stone’s price. This will enable you to streamline your search for the perfect gem and have intelligent, productive conversations with sellers.

There is a wealth of information online, such as our diamond-buying guide and this overview of colored gemstones for engagement rings. The buying guides of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), searchable by stone type, are also a widely trusted source for consumers venturing into the world of diamonds and gems for the first time.

Vet your vendor: If you peruse 1stDibs with any regularity, you know there is no shortage of vendors who deal in top-quality loose gemstones. (Read about our vetted sellers.) Finding a trustworthy, established dealer may be as easy as getting a recommendation from friends or family. And, although it may sound obvious, it pays to Google your candidates — and consult customer reviews — before making contact.

Harakh Mehta, designer and founder of the Mumbai, India–based fine-jewelry brand Harakh, has an innate understanding of proper client relations, especially when the customer is in unfamiliar territory. “Start chatting with the dealer, get to know them better," he says. "It’s very important to establish a comfort level. We never push a sale, as we want it to be a carefully considered purchase. So, if the client is not in a rush, we do it over a few virtual meetings or phone calls.”

Request documentation: The best dealers go to great lengths to furnish clients with documents verifying the quality rating, natural origin and provenance of a stone — showing, for example, that loose emerald hails from the famous Muzo mine in Colombia — and disclosing any treatments applied to enhance its appearance. (And who doesn't love emerald jewelry? The most valuable emeralds are the ones that have a deep bluish-green to true green color and no visible inclusions.)

If no grading report is available for a stone you are interested in, the dealer should be able to provide an authenticity document, such as an appraisal or info sheet, that has been signed by an in-house gemologist or professional appraiser. Google those names, too, for extra peace of mind.

Ask for videos and visuals: When transacting with a gem dealer online, you should always request real-time videos and photographs, since professional photos of a stone, usually on a white background, have likely been retouched for optimal presentation.

Read more about how to buy loose gemstones and find your dream gems today on 1stDibs.