Boulder opals also have a dark body tone, but they are not as valuable, while white opals have a light body tone and are generally the least valuable form of opal. Color is the first thing you'll notice about an opal. Red is the rarest and most sought after color. In order of value, the most valuable color is red, then orange, green, blue and purple.
However, opal is usually not a single color. It is important to decide which is the dominant color followed by the secondary colors. Use the dominant color as the color that will affect the price. Here, the manager of Gem-A Instruments, Samatha Lloyd FGA EG, provides a quick but essential guide to the value factors of opal and what distinguishes a fantastic specimen from an average one.
There are a number of factors that alter the value of opals. As mentioned, black opal may have higher prices than light opal (especially with a tinted black body tone), although this is not to say that a fantastic light opal can't be more expensive than a mediocre black opal. Opals are in a class by themselves. As a species, opal is so unique that it has its own descriptive vocabulary.
More than any other gem, each opal is distinctly individual. Opals are also the most delicate gemstones that are commonly used and require special care. A potch line has no reflection of light and these opals are generally valued lower, but they can make artistic patterns of images. Opal is so fascinating that it is difficult to evaluate it from the first and even from the second sight.
The dramatic variation in color and the types of color play phenomenon make opal a hard gemstone for value determination. This may be due to a network of scratches on the surface of the opal that destroys the enamel and hinders the play of colors, but a simple polishing can correct this. Opal doublets and triplets do not have the same strict criteria as solid opals and are valued considerably less. The particular colors seen in the fire of an opal depend on the size of the spheres and the angle of view.
Lightning Ridge Opal is well known and considered most valuable because it has the reputation of being the black opal capital of the world. The best opals are black in color with a colorful, bright and evenly distributed play of colors, without any treatment and of Australian origin. The only type of Australian opal that can be treated is Andamooka matrix opal; this is an opal that does not show a layer of opal that is separate from the host rock, but rather is part of the host rock and is often treated with acid or sugar to darken the host rock and highlight the colors present. In addition, electric blue opals are more valuable, as the hidden color bar makes the opal brighter than normal blue.
Black Opal Opal Boulder Opal Ethiopian Crystal Opal. Related Categories Dark Opal (Semi Black) Rough Opal, Dark Opal (Semi Black) Rough Opal and White Opal - Light Opal. Therefore, the most valuable black opal of all is a very bright red stone on a very black base that simply shines. However, some scholars believe that many ancient references to opal may have actually been to other gems, such as iridescent iris agate.
The term crystal opal refers to the “diaphanity” (transparency) of an opal, not its crystal structure, and is defined as any type of opal that is translucent to transparent. With fine opal stitching forming on the ironstone, these gems come in many colors and display a dazzling fire, backed by their brown ironstone matrix.
