Opal necklaces Australia – Get Some Unknown Facts

Are you planning to buy opal? If so, then there’s a lot you need to understand before getting opal necklaces Australia. Opal is a form of silica, chemically comparable to quartz but contains water within the mineral structure. Equally, opals fall under two major categories – namely precious opal and common potch opal. Precious opal generally carries between 6 – 10% water and consists of microscopic silica spheres organized in a regular pattern. America produces about 90% of the world’s precious opal and in recent years these opals have skyrocketed, and are quite popular in the world of fashion. But the thing is buying an opal can be complicated sometimes. So, this guide could help you get the best.

Opal types

There are many types of opals produced in the market. But each of them varies considerably in terms of physical appearance and brightness. Also, remember the more intense and brighter the colors are, the more expensive the opal will be.

Ethiopian opal

Ethiopian opal first came on to the market in 1993, although there are records of it being used by early cavemen in Kenya. Ethiopian opal is hydrophane opal, the term comes from the Greek words meaning 'water-loving' as the stone is porous and will absorb water. It comes in a variety of colors like white, yellow, orange, dark red, chocolate brown, and much more. But, the play of color is the same as other opals, when it comes to every color of the spectrum.

Fire opal

Fire opal is translucent and is available in a range of colors like bright red, orange, yellow. As it has no play of color it is technically a common opal, however, with its strong colors, it can be a stunning and valuable variety of opal.

Black opal

Black opal is coming from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia, which is world-famous for its black opal. The name black opal applies to the distinctive black ‘background-color’ or ‘body tone’ and not the play of color present in the opal. Black opal often has a natural layer of potch left on the back of the stone which can give extra darkness to the stone.

Opal doublets

Opal doublets consist of a light slice of precious opal that has been bonded on top of common opal or another host rock.

Opal triplets

Opal triplets are similar to opal doublets, the only difference is they are made up of layers. They have three layers- namely a black stone backing, a slice of opal in the middle, and a domed piece of crystal quartz or glass on the top.

Body-color and tone

Hardly anyone knows that the body color and tone of opal are critical factors that affect its beauty and value. Thus, the darker the tone of the opal, the more valuable it is.

 How to detect fake opals from real opal necklaces Australia?

· Check for the origin of opal as most opals are mined in Australia. So, if your opal isn’t mined in Australia then you should seriously check its validity.

· If the opal is a natural stone then with cutting it may lose its symmetry. But, if your opal looks round even after cutting, then you should verify it with a licensed jeweler.

· Look at the opal in strong, white light, if you find multiple colors on it then it’s a real thing.

· A real quality opal costs around $100, but if you are getting an opal for $20 or $40 then you should suspect its bargain.

Final thoughts 

Buying opal jewelry needs good research in advance,otherwise, you would be cheated with a low-quality stone. However, it’s best to purchase opal necklaces Australia from a high-quality vendor like Australian Fire Opals. We are trustworthy sellers and are pioneers in the field of opal jewelry.