Beginner's Guide to Aussie Opal Jewellery
Your Guide to Opals
Like the most beautiful and precious things in life, opals are exquisite and delicate, reflecting a fragile beauty that is truly rare.
What is a Natural Opal (REAL opals)?
Natural opals are unique gemstones known for their stunning play of colour. They form over millions of years as water carries silica into cracks and spaces in rocks, eventually hardening into opals. The vibrant colours you see are created by silica particles stacked in a grid-like pattern on a base of potch (colourless opal, in other words, just rock). Potch comes in colours such as black or gray, sometimes, red and other rock colours. While potch on its own is worthless, colorful silica formed on top of potch, especially black potch, is valuable.
Kê Lì Jewellery ONLY uses natural REAL opals.
What is a Lab Opal (Fake Opal)?
Lab opals, or fake opals, are man-made opals created in a laboratory. They have similar properties to natural opals but are generally less expensive and more consistent in colour and pattern. These are not used in Kê Lì Jewellery.
- How to Identify Fake Opals: Fake opals often have a more regular, uniform pattern and colour compared to natural opals. Look for a "lizard-skin" effect under magnification, which is typical of synthetic opals.
- Opal jewellers intentionally leave an open back peephole, or ‘azure,’ directly underneath the opal or gem to demonstrate its authenticity. Whilst it may also be used for cleaning the gemstone, its main purpose is to showcase as much of the opal as possible to confirm that it’s real.
Types of Natural Opals
- Black Opals: These rare gems are only found in Lightning Ridge. They're the most sought-after due to their dark body tone, which makes their colours pop.
- White Opals: The most common type of opal. They have a light or white background with either light or bright flashes of colour. The brighter the more valuable.
- Crystal Opals: These opals are highly prized for their transparent or semi-transparent background, which allows light to penetrate and illuminate the vivid flashes of colour within. The brighter and more intense the colours, the more valuable the crystal opal.
- Colour Significance: Red is the rarest and most desired colour, often fetching the highest prices. Bright, vibrant colours are considered gem quality and more valuable. Blues are also highly desired, but pale blues are more common and less valuable.
Opal Structure
- Solid Opals: These are natural opals with no additional layers.
- Doublets: These have a thin slice of natural opal glued to a black backing, enhancing the stone's colour. These are not used in Kê Lì Jewellery.
- Triplets: Similar to doublets but with an additional clear top layer to protect the opal. These are not used in Kê Lì Jewellery.
Opal Size and Thickness
The thickness and size of an opal can impact its value and durability. Larger and thicker opals are more valuable and less prone to damage.
Durability
Opals are fragile stones, and their hardness can vary. In Kê Lì Jewellery, the harder opals are selected for rings, where as softer, thinner opals can (although not always) be used for pendants and earrings.
Opal Patterns
- Harlequin: A rare and highly prized pattern with large, blocky patches of color.
- Pinfire: Tiny, pinpoint flashes of color scattered throughout the opal.
- Flashfire: Larger areas of color that appear to flash across the stone as it moves.
Evaluating Opal Quality
- Play of Color: The pattern, brightness, and range of colors.
- Body Tone: The base color of the opal, ranging from black to white.
- Clarity: Any inclusions or imperfections within the opal.
Storing Opals
- Storage Tips: Store opals in a cool, dark place. Avoid extreme temperature changes, which can cause cracking.
- Humidity: A small amount of moisture can prevent opals from drying out. You can store them with a damp cloth or in a slightly humid environment.
Caring for Your Opals
- Cleaning: Gently clean your opals with a soft, damp cloth. Special cloths and pearl solutions work well for opals too. Personally I can't live without my Town Talks jewellery cleaning supplies. You can find them here.
MYTH BUSTING:
Contrary to popular belief, solid (hence not doublets or triplets), Australian opals are safe to get wet. This myth likely stems from Ethiopian opals, which can absorb water and change appearance.
💖 With these tips, you'll be able to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of your opal jewelry while keeping it in top condition! Follow @kelijewellery for more opal jewelry content!