15,000 Dollar Black Opal Ring

[Yamifz6]

Hello.

I have a chance to buy this ring for 4500 Canadian Dollars. I want to get it for my wife for valentines day. I am purchasing it from the original family, who inherited it. It was the grandmothers wedding ring. I know nothing about opals. The ring is beautiful, opal is quite thick.

Am I paying to much or getting a deal? It was 15,000 dollars is 1938., I have attached the advertisement for it.

What do you think?

Cheers

 

[partgypsy]

Ask if you can get an appraisal before you purchase or contingent on purchase. Get an independent appraiser.

 

[Yamifz6]

Ask if you can get an appraisal before you purchase or contingent on purchase. Get an independent appraiser.

I will try that, I figured if it was 15K in 1938 it has to be worth alot today?

 

[Marlow]

Be careful - this is an 80 years old opal - could be cracked, lost colorplay - you def. need an expert otherwise you will hate the stone.

I bought a 2 ct black cristal opal around 1996 - a few years later the stone developed a tiny crack - no the whole stone is cracked in the middle. I lost around 1K!!

 

[LoversKites]

If you attach a clear photograph of it users here will be able to comment on the stones and settings quality.

 

[chrono]

I will try that, I figured if it was 15K in 1938 it has to be worth alot today?

A very optimistic assumption.
1. Appraisals even back in the 1900s tend to be over-inflated.
2. Don't know whether it is a whole opal, doublet or triplet
3. Can't tell a thing about the colour-play and origin from the lousy black and white picture
4. After that many years, who knows whether it has chips or worse yet, developed cracks, which can potentially bring its value down significantly.