Precious Opal is formed from a solution of silicon dioxide and water. As water runs down through the earth, it picks up silica from sandstone carrying this silica-rich solution into cracks and voids which caused by natural faults or decomposing fossils.
As the water evaporates, it leaves behind a silica deposit taking millions of years to form Precious Opal in the Earth.
The internal structure of microscopic silica spheres of precious opal makes the Opal diffract light. It can feature many colors depending on the conditions in which this internal structure formed.
The variety of natural opal is determined by the two characteristics, body tone and transparency.
Body Tone - The base tone for all Opal and can range from white, through the various shades from grey to black.
Transparency - Opal can be opaque or transparent. When it is transparent, and the color clarity is sharp, it is often referred to as crystal opal.
There are so many different types of natural Opals. At Australian Opal Direct we have a wide range of different types of Natural Solid Opals to doublets and triplets. Here is a list with descriptions to better understand the difference between each Precious Opal Gemstone.
BOULDER OPAL
Boulder Opal is from the Opal fields of Queensland and is the strongest form of Australian Opal due to it being married to the ironstone. A process taking millions of years to form, Boulder Opal can feature many different brilliant rich colors and the dark ironstone backing creates a contrast that showcases the colored brilliance.
BLACK OPAL
Black Opal is from the region of Lightning Ridge and is characterized by the dark body tone. This dark body tone also creates a brilliant contrast if there are any colors within it, enabling the bright colors opal to really kick! Black Opal is often considered the most valuable and rarest type of Opal. Over the years, production of the material has lessened.
WHITE OPAL
White Opal refers to Opal with a white milky body tone. Most of this type of Opal comes from Coober Pedy in South Australia. White Opal is one of the most common and recognizable forms of Australian Opal. Due to it’s white “milky” body tone, the opal colored flashes do not contrast as much as they do with Boulder and Black Opal.
To learn more about which location each Opal item we carry is from please click the “more section” underneath the item description.
Along with locations, there are different ways that Australian Opal is cut and set in jewelry. Opal can be set as a Natural Solid, a Doublet or a Triplet Opal. To learn more about these various cuts, please visit: https://australianopaldirect.com/about-opal/
Australian Opal Direct offers custom designed Opal jewelry reflecting the unique characteristics of each individual rare gemstone. From mining to wholesaling to exporting and retailing, we have over 30 years of experience in the Opal industry. Our location, close to the source and direct from the Australian Opal Mines allows us to provide the best possible Opal Gem at the most affordable price.
