Loose Opal Gemstones: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Evaluating Play-of-Color and Value

The most vibrant flash of red in an opal is worthless if the stone’s internal structure is a ticking time bomb of micro-fissures. While many collectors are mesmerized by the kaleidoscopic dance of light, seasoned connoisseurs know that the true value of loose opal gemstones lies in the intersectio …