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Opals are Rare!

To give you an estimate of how rare Opals really are we will compare them with Diamonds. Opals are 50 times rarer than Diamonds. Opals are made of hydrated silica. This is a glass like substance that contains moisture. This means that most Opals are completely clear. This means that we can look deep into the Opal as though we can see the other side.

It is easier to see the color and depth in an Opal when they have a black cover put onto the back of them. Black seems to be able to better reflect the colors within the Opal so that we can get a better appreciation of the beautiful gem.

The best way to find and have an Opal is where nature has created a piece of Opal. The most valuable Opal is the Black Opal that has a natural reflection of color that comes out of it. The Opal cutter has to take precise care to get the very best part of the stone out. It is a very delicate operation for the Opal cutter.

The most valuable of the Opals is the Black Opal.

Types of Opals

There are four main types of natural Opals, two ‘adapted’ types, and one artifical type.

Natural Opals

Black Opal

Black Opals are normally found in Australia and are the most expensive of all other Opals. They are very precious.

Black Opals are a totally natural stone found in its most natural state. The stone usually contains oxide within the stone that contributes to the intensity of color. Black Opals are not always black. These contain different minerals that reflect the light in a different way. The Black Opals are the most valuable of all the Opals.

The black opal being rare and is found in Australia exclusively. This is the reason why it is priced very high. It is an extremely beautiful stone and is very good quality. It s a magnificent opal and can be treasured for years as it is very precious.

Boulder Opal

The boulder Opal is also originated in Australia. Here the ironstone is also cut along the opal bearing boulder. This is a very precious opal and is very popular. Such an opal has irregular shape. They are cut to the curves of the opal layer thus producing a crimped surface.

The Boulder Opal still has black opal ‘potch’ attached to the back of it. This gives the Boulder Opal a blacker background color and reflects the colour back out.

White Opal

This opal is translucent. It may be a little creamy in color. Most of the opals that are found are white. The white opal has a major portion on white to be seen on it. The Opal ‘potch’ naturally attached to this stone is often a crystal white color which emanates a whiter color to the stone. The White Opal is more common than the Black Opal and the Boulder Opal.

Crystal Opal

The Crystal Opal is a pure form of opal and is transparent. Being very clear the colors that are seen are diffracted on the façade on an opal. Such an opal exhibits some amazing colors when held against light.

Crystal Opal is usually thinner and when sliced into slithers is used to back the face of watches.

The Crystal Opal is also used as inlays within rings too.

Adapted Opals

Because Opals are rare and valuable another method had to be devised where you could have and enjoy the value in a more economical fashion. Hence the Opal doublets and triplets came to being.

The main base for both the Doublet and Triplet Opal is that the black Opal on the back is artificially attached with a glue because finding it this way in it natural state is so rare. This enables us to have an exact replica of a natural Opal.

The backing on these Opals must be made with Black Opal ‘potch’. Because there is a water content within the Opal it is most important that only black opal ‘potch’ go onto the back of it. The reason for this is that both the top and bottom of the stone must be able to expand and contract perfectly together; and to contain the same moisture qualities.

Some unscrupulous dealers put black plastic on the back and tell you not to submerge the ring in water. The reason they say this is because the Opal has water content it will expand and contract differently to the plastic backing and can peel the backing off. We, at PearlAndOpalJewelry.com, most definitely do not use black plastic on the back of our Doublets and Triplets.

Doublet Opal

As mentioned above the Doublet Opal is a combination of the most beautiful pieces of Opal combined and laminated with a piece of black Opal ‘potch’. It is called a Doublet because there are two layers only, the top and the bottom. The Doublet Opal has a flat surface.

As you will see from the picture below there is very little visual difference between the Doublet and the Black or Boulder Opals in that there is a layer of black Opal potch laminated to the back of a doublet.

Triplet Opal

The Triplet Opal is very much like the Doublet Opal but has yet another layer on it. This adds more depth and glassiness to the look of the Gem.

The top of a Triplet Opal is mounded. As you will see from the image below it too cannot easily be seen to be different from the natural Opal.

Artificial or Created Opals

Opals are wonderful stones and the demand for it increases as the colors in it increases. It has therefore been necessary for science to enter into the field of arificial or synthetic Opals.

Created or Synthetic Opals are not made of Opal, nor any part of Opal.

We do not sell artificial Opals on our website yet. At our site we will soon have a midnight blue range of created opals.

Hardness of Opals

The Opal is quite hard. The hardness would be some where in between 5.5 to 6.5 and the density of this stone is 1.9 and 2.3.

To put this more into context the hardness of an Opal is similar to Glass or a Saphire. This means that they do not scratch that easily. You need to give them a serious bump in order for them to be scratched.

Opals can Crack

Opals have water in them, approximately 5-6%, a level of hydration is needed for their well being.

If an Opal is sat on a window sill in the sun it will dry out and had a high risk of cracking. In order to prevent cracking, when you are not wearing it put it safely away in your jewelry box.

An Opal likes to be worn because it can pick up a certain about of water through the humidity of your body, or when you wash your hands.

If you live in a dry climate then ensure you keep the Opal safely in your jewelry box and not out in the sun.

If you intend to store your Opal as a heirloom collectors piece then remove it from your jewelry box once per year and wet it under the tap before returning it to your jewerly box.

I love the feeling of wearing a stone with a water content in it. It makes me feel as though I am in tune or sync with nature.

Birthstone, Luck and Health

The Opal is the birthstone for the month of October, or Libras.

In some places opals are also kept as good luck charms. People like flaunting the opal that they have. You will see many people born in October wearing opals on their fingers considering it to bring good health and lots of luck.

Romans have kept the opal very close to their heart for years. They have been considering this stone to bring hope and purity to them. In fact it was considered the jewel of the wealthy people.

In the earlier days opals was said to have magical qualities in them. The Greeks said that opals had the capacity to improve a person’s eyesight. The person who would wear an opal would have lots of opportunities. Wearing an opal is supposed to clear all kinds of feelings and emotions and fulfill all desires.

In china the faith regarding opal is that, the person who would be either wearing or receiving an opal should be pure at heart. People in Asia say that opals are a sign of trust and loyalty.

Opals are considered very powerful stones having the powers to heal; it is also considered to bring trust and confidence to the person who would wear them.

While it is fun to hear stories from the past and around the world I will leave it to your own interpretation to make your decision.

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