Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Opal?
The rarest form of opal is Black Opal. It is called so because of its dark body tone, which acts as a backdrop for the rainbow of iridescent flashing colours.
In 2008, the black opal was named as the ‘gemstone emblem’ for
New South Wales.
Unlike ordinary opals, black opals have carbon and iron oxide trace elements present, which cause the unusual darkness of the stone. Because of their dark body tone, the rainbow colours in a black opal stand out much better than lighter opals.
What is Boulder Opal?
Australian Boulder Opals are the second most valuable type of opal (following black opal). Boulder opals are easily distinguished by their layer of solid brown ironstone left on the back of the stone. Boulder opals, as the name suggests, are mined from large ironstone boulders under the ground. Thin veins of colourful opal forms in cracks and fissures in these boulders. Because these veins of colour are so thin, opal cutters need to leave the ironstone on the back of the opal to form a full sized stone. The thin layer of opal in boulder opals can display any colour of the spectrum in a beautiful play of colour.
The thinness of the bar of colour in boulder opals means that a high cabochon surface is extremely rare. Boulder opals usually have a flat surface or an undulating surface. Boulder opals are almost always cut in a freeform shape for this reason, to maximise the size of the stone.
Beautiful, dark ironstone boulder opals can be found in Koroit, Queensland near Yowah, another prominent boulder opal producing area.
What is White Opal?
Also known as ‘milk’ or ‘milky’ opals, Australian white opals are distinguished by their pale white or light body tone. As with any kind of opal, white opals can display any colour of the spectrum in a beautiful play of colour.
White opals are much more plentiful and common than other kinds of opal like black opal and boulder opal. Often white opals will have white potch (colourless opal) left on the back of the stone, however sometimes the entire stone will consist of colourful opal.
Because of their pale body tone, white opals generally have less vibrant colour than boulder opals and black opals.
White opals are found in South Australia at two primary locations, Coober Pedy and Mintabie. Mintabie was closed in 2019, leaving Coober Pedy as the main opal producing site, accounting for 80% of all opals mined in Australia.
What is Crystal Opal?
Crystal Opal refers to any kind of opal which has a transparent, translucent, or semi-translucent body. If light is able to pass through the stone, or you can see through an opal, then you are probably looking at a crystal opal.
Crystal opals can display any colour of the spectrum in a beautiful play of colour. However, boulder opals which have a layer of translucent opal are not referred to as crystal opals because of their opaque ironstone backing.
The translucence of a crystal opal often gives it a greater clarity and vibrancy of colour than opaque stones. Pale coloured crystal opals (white crystal opals) are generally more valuable than opaque white opals, and black crystal opals can often have more beautiful colour than opaque black opals.
What is Andamooka Matrix Opal?
Andamooka Matrix is a type of opal that is found in the Andamooka region of South Australia. It is a unique, sedimentary rock that contains myriads of tiny deposits of gem opal. The opal in the matrix is not clearly visible to the naked eye, as the limestone is quite pale in colour. However, when the matrix is wetted, the opal fire
Andamooka matrix opal is treated to improve the richness and brilliance of the opal in the limestone. It is also known as Andamooka treated matrix opal.
Do you have a return policy?
All of our pieces are packaged in a beautiful display case to ensure safe delivery. In the unlikely event that a piece has been damaged in transit, please leave the box unopened and return within 7 days for a full refund of the purchase price.
