Mexican Fire Opal

Quality

The quality assessment of a natural Mexican fire opal gemstone is done by checking its Color, Play of color, Clarity and Shape. Analyzing these factors carefully reassures the person that he/she is buying a quality Mexican opal and getting what they are paying for. The most highly prized and best Quality Mexican fire opal gemstones are transparent, have a play of color, and are of a fire-red color range.

• Color

  - Mexican fire opal loose stones are prized for their base color which is usually dark red, orange, yellow, or brown. However, the Mexican red fire opal is regarded as the most sought-after gem. It is often addressed as Cherry opal stone or specifically ‘ Mexican cherry fire opal’ because of its deep red hue. Due to its highly vibrant color and spark, a Mexican orange fire opal is the next most preferred choice. Mexican black fire opal also exists but is exceedingly rare in nature.

• Play of Color

  – A natural Mexican fire opal may or may not exhibit a play of color. Generally, the transparency gems in orange, yellow, and red hues come without the color flashes. Therefore, the absence of play color can be excused for gems with exceptional body hues. This glittering effect is commonly found in the brown Mexican fire opals and gems in other similar color tones.

• Clarity

  - Unlike most opals, a good quality Mexican fire opal can be translucent to transparent. The premium quality loose Mexican fire opal stones usually display good transparency and brilliant luster. But Mexican Opal with dark body color and cloudy appearance (often called Jelly fire opal or Jelly Opal stone) are more common in nature. The Mexican jelly opal tends to have a waxy luster. At GemPundit, we provide an exclusive collection of Mexican Jelly Opals for sale. Our amazingly helpful gem experts will surely help you to buy Mexican Fire Opal online of superior quality at the best prices.

• Cut

  - The high-grade raw Mexican fire opals (with or without strong rainbow-like flashes) are mostly transparent enough to be cut in facets. However, slightly lower-quality gems are cut and polished as round and oval cabochons to bring out the best body hue and play of color.

Mexican Fire Opal Value

The discount or premium for a Mexican fire opal varies greatly and is influenced by numerous factors. Stone’s quality (in terms of Color, Play of color, Clarity & Cut ), Rarity, and Demand/Supply of a particular Size or quality, all these factors impact the Mexican fire opal prices, significantly.

Note : In India, Mexican fire opal price per carat starts from ₹ 1,500 per carat ($25) and reaches up to ₹ 5,000 per carat ($75) and above. The prices in other countries like UAE, UK or USA may differ due to the variation in supply and demand cycle.

• Color

  – As per the rule, Mexican fire opal in vivid orange and red colour are the most valuable, while paler cream, yellow or brown tend to be less expensive. The top quality, orange-red Mexican Cherry Opal always commands the highest market value due to its intense and uniform body hue accompanied by good clarity.

• Play of Color

  – Orange or red Mexican fire opal with a mesmerising play of color is more than rare. Hence, Mexican fire opal prices for such quality pieces remain considerably high in the gemstone market. The price of Mexican fire opal for pale-colored stone with faint fire is often low. It is important to note that Mexican fire opal value will not drop for stone without any color play if the body color is bright and intense.

• Clarity

  – Mexican fire opal cost per carat increases dramatically for eye-clean pieces because of its high rarity and demand. Translucent gems bearing good play of color often make up to the market and draw a good value. Jelly Opal price is comparatively low due to its cloudy appearance and waxy luster. Therefore, it serves as a cheaper option for people with serious budget constraints.

• Cut

  – Top-quality Mexican opal gems are mostly faceted to inflate their beauty and price. The limited availability, higher labor charge, and wastage of Mexican fire opal rough stone make such pieces costlier than others. In contrast, Mexican fire opal cabochons (polished stone with one side dome) in round or oval shape and Mexican fire opal egg (an egg-shaped crystal) are more common and available at cheaper rates.

• Carat weight

  – The supply of good quality Mexican opal minerals is rare in every size. Hence, the Mexican fire opal price per carat increases gradually for stones above few carats (implying quality remains consistent).