Jelly Opal: Also called water opal, this is a colorless, transparent common opal with a gel-like appearance.

Mexican Fire Opal: A bright orange to red transparent opal mined in Mexico, the largest supplier of fire opals.

Cat’s Eye Opal: A very rare opal containing a thin line of iridescence that is visible from multiple directions and capable of tracking across the stone.

Pinfire Opal: An opal containing many pinpoints of iridescence throughout the stone.

Harlequin Opal: An opal with vivid patches of iridescence in the shape of diamonds or rectangles one of the rarest and most prized variations.

Crystal Opal: A transparent or translucent opal that exhibits play of color.

Lightning Ridge Opal: High quality black opal, mined in Lightning Ridge, Australia, the “Black Opal Capital of the World.”.

This dark background makes the fiery play of color more visible.

Black Opal: An opal commanding high prices with body color ranging from gray, black and blue to green.

Pricing is determined by intensity of iridescence.

It exhibits play of color on white or light body color. White Opal: The most common precious opal found on the jewelry market.Generally speaking, greater transparency equals higher value.Įxamine the opal for doublets and triplets, which make the stone far lower in terms of value than solid opals. Dark overall color is rarer and thus commands higher pricing. When shopping, first determine the type of opal you are looking at, then consider the value factors.Īscertain the quality of iridescence the play of light should be visible from all angles with strong color patterns representing a range of color.Ĭonsider the body color. Since opal is a very soft stone, easily scratched or fractured, doublets and triplets are common jewelry applications. Doublets enhance the play of light an opal has to offer while adding durability.Ī triplet is constructed of a bottom layer of material, a layer of opal, and a smooth top covering such as plastic, crystal or glass for protection. Get your ballroom dancing on with your favorite star and win the competition. The result of this process is known as a doublet. Fashion Doll - Dancing Star Are you ready to break a leg It’s time to turn up the music with Fashion Doll - Dancing Star. Most often found in thin layers or plates, opal is sometimes left attached to the harder mother rock or, more frequently, bonded to a supporting layer of stronger material such as obsidian or glass. Opal forms in cracks and fissures deep in the earth. Transparent to translucent opals with a deeply saturated body color ranging from red to orange to bright yellow.įire opals do not usually exhibit play of color, but if they do, they are referred to as precious fire opals. Precious opals usually have a white or cream body color.

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