Opal Facts and Myths

Myth: Opals have to be immersed in water periodically to avoid cracks.

Fact: Australian opal is extremely non-porous, and therefore soaks up no water, oil or any other kind of liquid. The water content that is present within in an opal, is the same as that which was present while the stone was being formed. This means that soaking your opal in water will do nothing to increase its longevity. That being said, it is not advisable to soak a cracked opal as water may enter the crack and jeopardize its structural integrity.

Myth: Opals are very fragile stones and prone to breaking

Fact: Opals are generally said to be as hard as glass. While they are one of the more delicate gemstones, opals are not as fragile as many think. It is advisable not to perform tasks that involve heavy lifting or vigorous activity when wearing these stones.

Myth: Opals need to be rubbed with baby oil, olive oil or glycerin to prevent cracking.

Fact: Australian opals are completely non-porous and will not be affected by any kind of liquid including baby oil, olive oil or glycerin.

Myth: Opals are prone to cracking

Fact: Most opals are very stable and do not crack easily. Any material that increases the likelihood of the stone cracking is removed during the mining, processing and cutting process.

Myth: Black opals are jet black

Fact: A black opal exhibits a range of colors, and its value is determined by its 'play of color'. The term black opal is used to identify stones with very dark body tones. The finest black opals may be more valuable than diamonds.

Myth: Strong light will cause an opal to die

Fact: Strong light does not affect the life of an opal. In fact, an opal will shine better under improved lighting.

Myth: Opal stones at high altitudes are more prone to cracking

Fact: High altitudes will not affect your opal. Only impact, extreme heat and high pressure may increase the possibility of your stone cracking.

Myth: Opals are bad luck

Fact: While some negative superstition continues to remain, opals have been considered and continue to be considered stones of good luck.

Myth: Triplets are opals of three different colours

Fact: The name 'triplet' refers to the layers present within a stone, not the number of types of opal. Triplets consist of a black backing layer, a clear layer and a thin slice of opal sandwiched in between.

Myth: The light that an opal emits comes from within the stone.

Fact: The vibrancy of color in light that opal stones display is due to phenomena known as reflection and diffraction of light. Light needs to bounce off the tiny silica spheres that make up an opal stone for the 'rainbow' effect to be created.

Myth: Warming an opal increases its brightness.

Fact: Slight heating your opal will do nothing to improve its brightness or 'play of colour'

Myth: Exposing your opal to a lightning storm will improve its color.

Fact: This myth is borne out of a number of non-scientific beliefs originating from Arabia. Lightning does not affect an opal stone in any way.

Opal Doublets and Triplets

While black opals, white opals and crystal opals are mined and cut in their natural forms, there are also other kinds of opal stones that are man-made. These kinds of stones are known as doublets or triplets. Such stones are of lesser value than natural stones, but may mimic their appearance exactly. A doublet or a triplet is a stone where slices of opal are fixed to a black backing. Attaching these pieces of opal to the black backing, gives the entire stone a darker and more vibrant body tone.

Doublets

Doublets generally consist of two individual layers. The first is that of a black backing. This is typically made out of black industrial glass but can also be made of black potch (opal with no ‘play of colour’and therefore valueless), hard plastic, or brown ironstone. The second layer consists of a thin slice of precious opal. In most cases, these slices will be of white opal orcrystal opal. The thickness of this layer will vary from stone to stone but it is generally found to be thicker than in triplets. The edges of the opal slice are generally shaped to give the stone a cabochon look (domed top).

It is easy to identify a doublet by searching for the place in which the opal slice and the black backing have been glued together. The finest doublets will have a lining that is perfectly straight indicating precision in the attachment process.

Triplets

A triplet is similar to a doublet, but consists of three individual layers that are glued together. Like a doublet, a triplet also adopts a black backing, along with a thin slice of opal. The third layer is usually clear glass, plastic capping or quartz cut in the shape of a dome. The clear capping of the third layer may magnify the vibrancy of the opal, but it is meant to protect it from the environment.

The clear non-opal capping makes it extremely easy for professionals to identify whether a stone is a triplet or not. The way in which the light reflects off these stones is very different from that of other kinds of opals. The value of a triplet will be heavily dependent on the amount of opal used in making the stone, and is usually less than that of a doublet. That being said, such stones are generally found to be more resistant to damage and impact as a result of the extra third layer.

Caring for Doublets and Triplets

Since these two kinds of stones use adhesive in their makeup, it is possible that prolonged exposure to water may affect the way in which the stones are held together. When water is infused in between the layers, the stone will take up a 'foggy' appearance. It is always recommended to use a damp soft cloth and mild detergent when cleaning these stones, as opposed to more powerful chemicals bleaches and cleaners.

Crystal Opals

The definition for a crystal opal continues to confuse many professionals, but a stone is generally considered to be a crystal opal if it has any kind of transparent or translucent quality. It is possible for a black opal, white opal or semi-black opal to also be a crystal opal.

 

 

 

 

 Appearance

The translucent or transparent property of a crystal opal is referred to as the 'diaphaneity' of the stone. If you are holding a stone, and find that it is possible for light to pass through it, or that you can see through the stone entirely, there is a high likelihood that you are holding a crystal opal. Like other opals, crystal opals can also offer a magnificent 'play of colour'.

It must be said though that a boulder opal can never be a crystal opal. Despite the fact that some boulder opals may have translucent features, the presence of an ironstone layer on the back means that they will never be categorized as crystal opals.

The translucent feature that a crystal opal integrates often provides a greater degree of clarity and vibrancy than its more opaque counterparts. A crystal opal that is white or pale white in body tone is generally considered more valuable that a stone that is completely white and opaque. A black crystal opal may have a better vibrancy than a black, opaque stone making it more valuable.

While crystal opals are generally cut in a standardized oval form, it is not uncommon for them to be cut in freeform or teardrop form, in an attempt to maximize the size of the stone, as well as its carat weight. Crystal opals are cut with high cabochon in order to improve the vibrancy of the colours they display.

Value

A crystal opal of the highest quality may fetch a price that amounts up to AUD $2500 per carat. A crystal opal will always be more valuable than a stone with a similar body tone, without the clarity rendered by translucence. The more the diaphaneity of an opal stone, the greater its value.

Origin

The crystal opal is generally mined in South Australia, as well as New South Wales. These stones are commonly found in the same locations as black or white opals. One of the most popular mining grounds for crystal opals was White Cliffs in New South Wales.

White Opals

The white opal remains less valuable than the black opal or the boulder opal precisely because of its less brilliant play of colours and relative abundance. The white opal is often also referred to in some circles as the 'milky opal'. Here are some of its characteristics:

Appearance

What makes the white opal distinguishable from its other opal counterparts is its pale white or light body tone. There is a body tone chart that professionals use when determining whether an opal is a white opal or not. As in the case with other opal stones, the white opal may also displays a fantastic 'play of colour'.

More often than not, a white opal will also have pale white potch (colorless and valueless opal) remnants on its back. In other cases, this potch may be present all over the stone, affecting its 'play of color'.

As you can imagine, the white opal does not have the same vibrancy as its black or boulder counterparts. Although the stone might be pure, its white colour makes it difficult for a person to see and distinguish different colours within the spectrum. The dark body tone of black opals and boulder opals make this much easier.

Value

In comparison to other opals like the black or the boulder types, the white opal comes in last. It is far less valuable than other kinds of opals because of its relatively poor vibrancy. Another important factor that plays a part in determining the value of an opal is its abundance. The white opal is commonly mined, and therefore readily available for purchase.

While it is the case that most white opal stones' pale colour makes them less sought after, it is also possible to find a white opal of superior quality that is extremely beautiful. Such white opals have been purchased at prices rising up to AUD $200 per carat. Other factors that affect the value of the white opal are its brightness and colour patterns.

A Word on Crystal Opals

Crystal opals are often confused with white opals. There is a fine line of difference between the two, but crystal opals are generally identified as those stones which have transparent or translucent properties. When there is only a mild translucence, it becomes difficult to determine whether a stone is a crystal opal or a white opal.

Origin

Coober Pedy, Andamooka and Mintabie are three of the most common places where white opals are mined in Southern Australia.

Black Opals

Black opals are the most valued of all opals mined in Australia. The rarity of this particular gem has caused its price to increase dramatically in recent years. After all, most of the world's supply of black opals comes from one small mining town.

Origins of Black opals

Lightening Ridge is a small town, in New South Wales, about 10 hours from the Gold Coast (give time north-west of Sydney). Over the years, millions of dollars worth of black opals have been mined in Lightening Ridge. Mintabie in South Australia is another source of black opals.

The first record of a black opal found in Lightening Ridge goes back to 1873, but it was not until 1903 that people realized how valuable this gemstone was. Black opals mined in Lightening Ridge changed the market value of opals and set a new precedent for the gem.

Characteristics of a Black Opal

The main characteristic of a black opal is a dark body, ranging from dark gray to soot black. The body tone is only a general characteristic and is in no way related to the spectral or rainbow colours in the gem. Many people think that a black opal is completely black in colour. If it was so, it would have been totally worthless.

The dark body tone of the opal is caused by traces of iron oxide and carbon. The dark tone is an advantage because it ensures that the rainbow colours in the opal stand out. The contrast of the body tone against the fire colour makes black opals highly desirable and increases their prices.

Cutting a Black Opal

Gem cutters will usually leave a layer of potch (common opal) behind the stone, which enhances the dark tone of the gem and lends it extra vibrancy. The darker the colour of the potch backing, darker is the body tone of the stone. Triplets and doublets, which imitate black opals, are based on this principle.

Most black opals are cut into oval shapes, but the shape also depends on the stone's natural shape. as a result opals are also cut into teardrop or free-form shapes to maximize the carat weight and size of the gem.

It is not necessary that a black opal should fetch a high price. There are other factors such as the pattern's uniqueness, brightness, cabochon shape, and the color of the pattern (the most valuable pattern colour in a black opal is red, but green and orange fire colors are also good for investment) which affect the price of a black opal.

Kinds of Opal

Opal is a notoriously difficult gemstone to mine. Unlike other gemstones, there are no opal veins. Neither does it concentrate like diamonds. Small quantities of opal are scattered over a wide area. Did you know that some varieties of opal are more precious than emeralds and rubies? Here are more details on the different types of opals.

Black opal

Black opals are very valuable because they are very rare. Their dark body tone of blue, brown, grey or even black distinguishes them from other kinds of opals. Most black opals contain rainbow colours, while some contain deep green and blue hues.

Semi-black opals are also found; the difference is, a black opal has a dark body with brilliant colours, whereas semi-black opals are mid-grey.

Boulder opal

Boulder opals are extracted from dark or light ironstone boulders. They are seen as thin veins in the rocks. Hydrated silica flowed into the cavities and cracks in the ironstone boulders millions of years ago and solidified over time. The silica will be fixed in a cavity or might be interspersed in the rock, hence the name 'boulder opals'.

One of the best known variety of boulder opals are Yowah-nuts. These are small ironstone concentrations, with solid opal kernels or thin opal veins.

Light opal

A light opal will have either a light blue or white base. All the colours of the rainbow may be visible in these opals. Some light opals are translucent and the sharp colours are visible just under the surface.

Doublet opal

Doublet opals are not actually solid opals. In this case, thin pieces (slices) of high quality opal (usually light opal) are glued to a backing of black potch (common opal), ironstone or even glass, to resemble a boulder opal or black opal.

Triplet opal

Triplet opals are also not solid opals and contain three layers. First, a thin piece of valuable opal is glued to a dark common opal or a darkened piece of porcelain or glass. The piece of opal is then given a protective cover by cementing a piece of clear quartz on it, with clear resin.

Common opal

Common opals or potch are not gems. There are many varieties of potch and most of them are opaque. Some of them are hyalite, hydrophane, resin opal and potch.

Opalised fossils

The opal fields in Australia were once covered by the sea. Where there is a sea, there will naturally be sea creatures. So from time to time opalized fossils are unearthed. Sea water contains silica, which enter the shells of the dead sea creatures. Over time, the water evaporates, leaving behind silica. Most opalized fossils are shells, but you can also find opalized wood, sponges, animal bones, plant stems and even fish skeletons.

Synthetic opals

Synthetic opals are created in laboratories. Chemically, they are not different from natural opals. Sometimes, synthetic opals are passed off as natural opals, so you have to be very careful when buying.

What is an Opal?

The opal is the national gemstone of Australia. After all, more than 90 percent of the world's opal is mined in Australia and much of this comes from just one state, South Australia. It is also found in Queensland and New South Wales. Black opals from New South Wales' Lightening Ridge are well known. Unlike most other gemstones, opal is not crystalline, rather it is made from hydrated silica.

Did you know that the word opal comes from the Sanskrit word, upala, which means precious stone? The Romans called it opalus and valued it for its brilliant colors and its supposed ability to ward away eye diseases.

Australian Opals- The Best in the World

Opals mined in Australia are known for their brilliance and their stability. Opals mined in other places in the world come from volcanic rock, which leaves them with a high water content. These opals can get damaged in hot or dry conditions. Opal by Anderson Beattie stocks a wide range of Australian opals, obtained from the best Australian mines.

Pure opal does exist, but it is very rare. Rather, opal has different body colours according to the mineral impurities in the stone. So you have colours like gray, white, yellow, blue, rose, slate, brown, black, red, green and more. For a gemstone, opal is quite soft and has a hardness of 5.5 to 6 on the Moh’s scale. So opal is best suited for brooches, earrings and other pieces of jewellery that will not receive hard use.

How the Opal Came to Be

According to an old aboriginal story, a young boy was chasing a kangaroo. He finally caught it with his wooden club and started to make a meal of it. Before he began eating, he stuck his wooden club into the ground and lo! The wooden club was turned into an opal stone. Even now, when an opal miner finds a vertical vein in a mine, he considers it a sign of good luck. It tells him that he is not too far from his goal.

It is said that an opal gives inspiration and enhances the wearer's creativity and imagination. It releases inhibitions and improves the memory. Opal has a very spiritual side and is said to bring happy dreams to the wearer.

Different Opals and Their Properties

Opals of different colors have different properties. For instance, Fire Opal is said to enhance personal power and awaken the inner fire in the wearer. Green Opal is cleansing and promotes rejuvenation. If you are having troubles in your relationships, then you should wear Green Opal. Black Opal is said to enhance the wearer's sexual attractiveness and leads to higher spiritual experiences.

The cost of an opal depends on the qualities of the stone like body tone, colours present, colour play, size and pattern. If you want to buy an opal online, Opal by Anderson Beattie is one of the best sites on the internet to do so.