Your Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide to Navigate the World of Australian Opals
The Challenge of Discerning Authenticity
Understanding Opal Varieties: Solid vs. Composite
Opals, known for their enchanting beauty, are often misrepresented in the market. Lab-created opals, along with cheaper alternatives known as Doublets and Triplets, lack the rigorous quality standards of solid opals and hence, carry less value. Despite this, they are sometimes sold at prices comparable to their more prestigious counterparts.
The Intricacies of Valuing Opals
Valuing an opal is a nuanced process, more so than even diamonds, involving a detailed assessment of colour, pattern, brightness, shape, inclusion, body tone, and origin. It’s also crucial to differentiate between natural and treated opals, as they hold considerably higher value.
Is My Opal Genuine?
To verify the authenticity of an opal, consider:
- Pattern Examination: Genuine opals display less uniform patterns and more colour variability, unlike the 'too perfect' appearance of synthetics.
- Texture Insights: On viewing the opal sideways, a synthetic might reveal straight, column-like patterns, then the opal is likely synthetic.
Why Opt for Australian Opal?
Australian Opal Most Common Varieties
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Black Opal
Harvested from Lightning Ridge, this variant is prized for its dark body tone.
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White Opal
Sourced from South Australia, known for its lighter body tone and rarity.
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Boulder Opal
Unique to Queensland, these opals feature a mesmerizing mix of opal and ironstone layers.
The Science of Stone Hardness and Setting
The Mohs Hardness Scale guides the selection of jewelry settings based on stone hardness. While diamonds, rubies, and sapphires can endure more exposed settings due to their hardness.
In contrast, opals rank much lower on the Mohs Scale, typically between 5.5 and 6.5. Despite their captivating play-of-color and unique beauty, opals are relatively soft compared to other gemstones. As a result, they require special care and consideration when it comes to jewelry settings.
Innovative Setting for Opals
The fragility of opals is mainly due to their internal structure. Unlike other gemstones that are crystalline, opals are made up of silica particles in a non-crystalline arrangement. This structure makes them more sensitive to shock, pressure and temperature changes.
Given their delicacy, we've pioneered a setting technique that protects opals without obscuring their beauty. Discover this method in our article below, designed to safeguard your investment in soft stones.
Opal Collection
