About Opals

Opals are unique gemstones renowned for their vibrant, flashing rainbow colors.

As the national gemstone of Australia and the birthstone for October, opals hold a special place in gemology. Australia produces 95% of the world’s precious opal gemstones.

Each opal is a one-of-a-kind creation by nature, with no two pieces alike.

Opals are composed of tiny silica spheres, formed when silica-rich water seeps into deep cracks and voids in the Earth’s crust.

There are five primary varieties of opals: Black opals, Boulder opals, White opals, Doublet opals, and Triplet opals. 

Black Opal

Black opals are the rarest and most valuable type of opal. They display all the colors of the rainbow, with red being the rarest and most expensive. The stone's dark appearance is due to trace elements of carbon and iron oxide. Black opals are formed as water runs through the earth, picking up silica from sandstone. They are found only at Lightning Ridge in northern New South Wales, Australia, and some areas in South Australia.

Boulder Opals

Boulder opals are arguably the second most valuable type of opal. Boulder opals are similar in appearance to black opals and are easily identifiable by their mixture of ironstone and solid opal. Thin veins of opal form in cracks and fissures in boulder rock, creating boulder opals. These are found only in Queensland, Australia.

White Opals

White opals are the lightest of all opals, speckled with rainbow colors against a milky-white background. They are sub-transparent to translucent and are believed to have healing properties. White opals are primarily found in Coober Pedy and Mintabie in South Australia.

Doublet Opals

Doublet opals consist of a layer of translucent or semi-translucent opal on a dark backing, which enhances the color within the gemstone. They are a more affordable option compared to solid opals.

Triplet Opals

Triplet opals are composed of three layers: a black backing, a slice of opal, and a clear glass, quartz, or plastic dome-shaped cap on top. The clear cap magnifies the opal’s color and protects it from damage. Triplet opals offer an affordable alternative to solid stones while providing the same appearance.