OPAL DOUBLETS
This generally describes anything that has been manufactured with two layers. A piece of solid, natural transparent or translucent-colored opal is glued to a synthetic dark backing, imitating nature's solid stone. The dark base enhances the OPAL'S color. Although some doublets can be quite valuable they are also a very cost-effective way of purchasing a beautiful OPAL at less expense.
OPAL TRIPLETS
A manufactured opal consisting of
three layers. A paper-thin slice of solid natural transparent or translucent-colored opal is glued to a dark backing of potch or black glass, but we add a dome of clear quartz crystal glued onto the top. The crystal dome is to magnify and protect the opal. A triplet is less expensive than a doublet as less opal is used.
SOLID OPALS
100% natural opal gemstone, except for cutting and polishing; it has not been altered in any way.
SOLID BLACK OPAL
Only found in the Lightning Ridge area in the far north-northwest of New South Wales. It is the world's rarest, most valuable, brilliant and stunning opal of them all. A layer of opal, like a band of color, sits on a naturally occurring dark backing. It is from the color of the backing that "BLACK OPAL" gets its name. This dark background know as potch, ranges in color from light grey through to midnight black.
SOLID WHITE OPALS
This is the most common type of opal. It is found mainly in Coober Pedy, South Australia. Coober Pedy is known as the OPAL Capital of the world, it is the world's largest opal field. There are two types of white opal, milky and crystal. Milky opal is opaque, with the colors visible on the surface only, where as crystal opal is transparent, the colors being visible from within the depths of the stone.
BOULDER OPAL
This type of Opal is only found in the Queensland fields. It is opal veinlets found within ironstone boulders. The seam of opal is the face, like an opal veneer with a natural ironstone backing. Boulder Opals have a similar appearance to Black Opals but are less valuable.
BOULDER MATRIX OPAL
This is also found in the Queensland fields, it is a mix of opal vienlets and ironstone. When these are polished, it produces an amazing assortment of stones, some looking like landscapes, others so bright the opal looks like tiny laser beams within the dark brown host rock.
