Oh, the spectral delight that is Opal, the “Eye Stone.” Like lightning in a rainbow, it flashes its brilliance with even the slightest movement and claims notice by all who witness its phenomenal “fire.” Shown here is a black opal from Australia.
Colorful opal, appropriate for fall. The shifting play of kaleidoscopic colors is unlike any other gem.
Each opal is unique in pattern, shape, color, and type, making for one of a kind jewelry. Although it is only 5.5 – 6 on the Mohs Hardness scale, opal makes a beautiful jewelry gemstone.
The opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica. As such, its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. The internal structure of precious opal makes it diffract light. Depending.on the conditions in which it formed, it can take on many colors. Black opals are the rarest, white and greens are the most common. Opal is the national gemsotne of Australia.
Gem opals can be classified into four groups, light, dark, boulder, and black.
Light Opal, the most common, has a translucent milky to opaque white background. Crystal Opal is transparent to translucent. Fire Opal, a type of crystal opal, is reddish orange to red, is normally translucent to semi-translcent, and is found in Mexico and Ethiopia.
Dark Opal is opaque with a gray body color.
Boulder Opal contains sandstone or ironstone. Opal with matrix show visible ironstone. Opal with no visible inclusions is called opal in matrix. Most Boulder Opal is found in Queensland, Australia.
Black opal is opaque and very dark in body color. They are the most brilliant and often the most coslty because of their rarity and intense color. Most of these opals are from Australia.
“The Romans established opal as a precious gemstone, obtaining their supplies from traders in the Middle East. The early Greeks believed the opal bestowed powers of foresight and prophecy upon its owner. In Arabian folklore, it is said that the stone fell from heaven in flashes of lightening.” (Opals Down Under)
Opal has a hardness of 5.5 – 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it is more delicate, cabable of being scratched and its surface worn down. Opal rings are beautiful but should be worn with care. Opals make exculsive jewelry pieces because no two opals are alike. Finding a matched pair of opals for earrings is a challenge. When it does happen it is called a “split”.
The opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica. As such, its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. The internal structure of precious opal makes it diffract light. Depending.on the conditions in which it formed, it can take on many colors. Black opals are the rarest, white and greens are the most common. Opal is the national gemsotne of Australia.
Gem opals can be classified into four groups, light, dark, boulder, and black.
Light Opal, the most common, has a translucent milky to opaque white background. Crystal Opal is transparent to translucent.
Fire Opal, a type of crystal opal, is reddish orange to red, is normally translucent to semi-translcent, and is found in Mexico and Ethiopia.
Featuring pearls of all shapes, colors, sizes, and types through the month of June. Fresh Water Pearls, South Sea Pearls, Black Tahitian Pearls, Gray Keshi Pearls, White and Peach Baroque Pearls. Pearl jewelry of all types, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pins will be on display.
