Buying guide
How to Read a Loose Gemstone Listing
A useful loose-gemstone listing separates visible facts from supplier information and laboratory conclusions. Here is what each part of a listing can—and cannot—tell you.
6 minute guide
Read guideBuyer education
3 focused guidesUnderstand the listing before choosing a stone
Short, factual guides explain exact-piece photography, weight and dimensions, opal play-of-color, visible inclusions, and the difference between supplier information and laboratory verification.
Opal guide
Opal Cabochon Buying Basics
Opal changes more with angle and lighting than many other gemstones. A good online listing should help you judge the exact stone across several views rather than reducing it to one bright frame.
5 minute guide
Read guideCondition guide
What Visible Inclusions Mean in a Loose Gemstone
Inclusions are internal features; blemishes and wear occur at the surface. Both can be useful evidence, but neither should be hidden behind a generic clarity label or an overly flattering photograph.
6 minute guide
Read guideThese pages provide general buying context, not gemstone identification, appraisal, durability advice for a specific setting, or a substitute for qualified laboratory testing. Product pages state the evidence available for each River Basin item.