Hi again…I’m obsessed with opals and have another one I would like your opinions on. This one is a 7.6 carat black opal with blue flashes of color. In your opinions, is this opal smoked? I don’t care if it is as I love this stone. I paid $8.50 for it and it reminds me of a thunderstorm. I’d love your opinions and any information you would like to share. Thank you
Hi, on inspection of the opal just by the images it does appear to be smoked. I have a couple smoked opals and they have a distinct black body to it different from untreated opals. But it is beautiful, may I ask have you ever had this opal subjected to any moisture or water? Like out in the rain or washing. As I have noticed with smoked opals of this nature they tend to go completely black and lose their fires, and after couple hours of drying come back to life.
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At a price of $8.50 you must strongly consider it is only a “fashion” gem. But it is very pretty and well worth the price. Just be careful with its wearing and cleaning. You want it to last forever.
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Hi, it has a very similar look to some of the Andamooka Opal as per attached
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Thank you for responding! To answer your question, no, it has never been subjected to water. I bought it as a rub and my friend polished and set it. I just got the ring a month ago and have not wore it, other than to marvel at it. It may not be a great opal and it’s probably smoked, but I love it. I hope it doesn’t lose its color.
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A fashion gem?!! So you’re saying it’s not a real opal, because of the price I paid for it?? You wouldn’t believe the gemstones I’ve bought for extremely low prices. It’s a real opal- smoked more than likely- but real nonetheless. Thank you for responding
Thank you! These are gorgeous!!
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‘fashion gem’ just means that it is to wear and enjoy, not investment quality or museum quality etc, not that it’s fake.
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I understand the meaning now. Fashion gem just sounds like a snooty way to say it’s not worth much, because it’s NOT museum or investment quality. So where is the line drawn from fashion gem to investment gem? Is there a dollar amount? Is it ok to set investment gems into jewelry, and if so, does it diminish the value of the stone? What qualifies a stone to be museum quality? I mean, I’ve seen some opal jewelry that’s worth thousands of dollars. Are those considered ‘fashion gems’ or investment gems? I’ve never purchased a gem strictly for its value. I’m a blue collar worker that buys stones that appeal to me to be set into jewelry. When I find a stone that I know is worth way more than I paid for it, it’s a thrill. I don’t have a high end budget or a professional jeweler to set them. But I do have some gorgeous jewelry to pass down to my grandkids, and to me, that holds the most value. Thank you for responding.
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I can see how it comes off as snooty!
I’ve been playing with the idea of making a youtube video about this, so this thread really crystalizes that for me.
It’s a bit of a long answer, I’m going to try to get back to it, if I don’t, I will make the vid and link it for you. 
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Thank you! I would love to see a video explaining all this. I was asked if it had been exposed to water, which it has not. But now I wonder what the best way is to keep it from crazing. Should I put it in water? Mineral oil? Leave it the hell alone?! I have also heard that smoked opals- if it is actually smoked- lose their color over time. I thought I had a pretty good grip on opal info, but every time I turn around, I learn something new! I definitely want this to last forever. I did notice an odd phenomenon. I used to be able to see a slight flash of green in the stone and it’s no longer there. It is very humid right now and I don’t know…does weather play a role in opals? How does one care for opals that are set into jewelry, as some opals lose their color if exposed to water. Ok I’m rambling here. So thank you for responding and I look forward to your video or any information!
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I am tempted to agree with SYDP , I have treated andamooka and have a few that are similair in color , Does it have a high polish
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I’d also love to see a video of this topic. I’ve been looking for something to include on my website about this very topic. Please tag me when you have something created.
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You mentioned in an earlier post that you purchased the Opal as a …RUB! what was the origin of the rough? Because that term originated in Australia in the Lightning Ridge opal fields, and as far as I know, is not used outside of that site.
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If it was bought as a rub and your friend polished it, it was a darn good rub to be in that shape to fit a ring perfectly. I have not found any runs that were in that shape before for that kind of price. You got a deal smoked or not. If you get it wet it will not loose it’s color, it will come back after it dries. The smoking process just goes so deep into the stone and most polishing will remove some if not most of the smoked finish from an opal in my experience and it will need to be re done after a good polishing. Unless, the rub that was done to it in the first place was just about a finished piece. So just get dive in and see. What can it hurt?
All the best on a beautiful buy and stone.
Otter
You asked the question about putting the Opal in a fluid to restore color, NEVER< NEVER PUT AN OPAL IN ANY KIND OF OIL. that process will destroy the color. Water is the ONLY fluid that an Opal should be immersed in, because it is a component of the stone and fills the spaces between the spherules of silica which make up the opal.