Types Of Opal
There are many different types of opal, the points differentiating the types being color, place and kind.
An example of rough opal
The first point to understand is the term play of color. Play of color is the way in which colors change as an opal is moved or tilted in different directions. This can be extra fascinating on an opal ring because as the wearer moves her hand, the opal flashes with a rainbow of color.
Gem quality opals, with only a couple of exceptions, always display this play of color.
Black Opal shows a play of color from within a black to very dark gray body color. The Black Opal may not look black at all if other colors predominate. It is the background color.
Semi Black or Dark Opal is lighter than Black Opal.
Crystal Opal is more transparent with a deep display of colors. When held against a dark background it should be transparent.
Light Opal shows a play of color from within a white, gray or light body color. May be either opaque or translucent. More common than Black Opal.
Boulder Opal is where precious opal has naturally formed on or in brown ironstone boulders. It is a solid piece of opal, sometimes very thin with a natural brown ironstone back, giving it a black or very dark opal appearance from the top. Similar to black opal but the foreground color is very thin and it often has undulations in it which makes it popular with modern designers seeking something different.
Matrix Opal (Andamooka Matrix) is a porous opal that can be dyed to look similar to black opal. These can be lovely pieces and it is a good way of getting the look without the cost but does illustrates the need to buy through reputable sellers as Matrix Opal has been sold as the highly expensive black opal.
Yowah Nuts from from the Yowah Opal Field in Queensland. The Yowah Nut is a brilliantly colored opal nested in a nugget of ironstone and good pieces makes spectacular jewelry. Hard to describe but see the lovely example at the bottom of this page.
Fire Opal is transparent to translucent with warm body colors such as yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red. They do not usually show any play of color but are never-the-less highly sought after.
And there are some types of opal that are man made. This makes these types of opal more affordable – usually! – but generally they are not suitable as investments.
Opal Doublet – A very thin layer of quality opal is bonded with to a backing of black glass, black potch or ironstone. The black background enhances the play of color so that the doublet imitates quality black opal.
Opal Triplet – The same as a doublet but as well a domed cap is added over the gem opal to enhance the play of color by magnifying the colors.
Mosaic Opal – Uses the small colored chips of opal which would otherwise be discarded. The pieces are tightly packed together to create a mosaic of colored opal.
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