The name Opal is derived from the Greek name “opals” and from Sanskrit “upala”, which means “Precious Stone”. It is different from most precious gems due to its non-crystalline, or amorphous, crystal system in nature. opal is allochromatic and it comes in a variety of colors, with black being the most valued. Other forms include white (milk opal), red (fire opal), or colorless (water opal). The most striking characteristics of precious opal are the glowing effects it exhibits when ignited, known as “play of colours”. This is caused by tiny spheres of silica that reflect and diffract white light. This effect is known as “opalescence“. Smaller spheres produce only blues and greens, while larger ones produce the entire spectrum. Black opals bring out the play of colors most dramatically. Opals look great in simple jewelry settings and look particularly attractive when set in rings.

ID:

Opal has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 and a specific gravity of 2.1 to 2.2 and has a low density. It is transparent to opaque, has a vitreous, greasy, opaque, or waxy luster and leaves a white streak. It is singularly refractive, and it is porous. In this case, it is dangerous to immerse it in any liquid other than water.

Idea:

An area of ​​former Czechoslovakia that used to belong to Hungary has been mining opal since Roman times and was the only source of noble opal for Europeans. In modern times, most opals come from Australia where the best quality opals are found. Other sources are mainly Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, the United States and Iceland.

Varieties:

There are few varieties, but mainly there are 3 varieties that are most popular in the gem business: white precious opal, black precious opal, and fire opal, also called common opal. Each has its own distinctive colors and characteristics.

Worth:

The value of an opal depends on its body color, color play, and solidity. There is no comparison between the value of the noble opal and that of the fire opal, which is quite cheap even compared to other lesser gems. It is worth a little more when you see some hints of color within the stone. It is valued by collectors as a curiosity but is rarely used in jewelry. A black opal, with no blemishes and a uniform pattern made up of bright, light colors, including red, can be worth more per carat than a diamond. Common opals do not exhibit color play and as a result are worthless.

History and healing uses:

Opals were worshiped by the ancient Romans; used as an eye tonic in the Middle Ages; celebrated by Shakespeare; and they were a favorite gemstone of Queen Victoria. The most common and popular background is milky white, it is called White Precious Opal. The stone can be used to enhance psychic awareness, as well as energize all levels and areas of the body, due to the rainbow of colors it contains.

Simulators and Synthetics:

For a long time it was considered impossible to imitate opal. In recent years, however, an imitation has appeared on the market that, at first glance, appears deceptively similar to opal. Is called “slocum stone” in honor of its inventor. A plastic imitation has also recently come onto the market and is very similar to natural opal, being composed of microscopic spheres, like opal. White opal has been manufactured synthetically by the French company for almost a decade .