Boulder Opal: A Painted Masterpiece

Boulder opal is a unique and captivating variety of opal that is revered for its stunning and distinctive appearance. Unlike traditional opals, which are known for their play-of-color in a milky or translucent background, boulder opals are characterized by vibrant flashes of color embedded in ironstone matrix. This matrix forms the host rock and provides a natural and artistic backdrop to the opal, creating a mesmerizing effect reminiscent of a painted masterpiece.

Here are some key features that make boulder opal a painted masterpiece:

Colorful Play-of-Color: The most prominent feature of boulder opal is its brilliant play-of-color. These flashes of color can include vibrant hues such as blue, green, red, and purple. The play-of-color occurs as a result of the diffraction of light by the microscopic silica spheres that make up the opal.

Ironstone Matrix: The opal is naturally fused with the surrounding ironstone matrix, creating a unique and contrasting composition. The ironstone matrix often appears as a rich, earthy brown or black background, enhancing the vividness of the opal's play-of-color.

Natural Artistry: The combination of the opal and the matrix is like a collaboration between nature and time. The patterns and shapes created by the play-of-color against the backdrop of the matrix can resemble landscapes, seascapes, or abstract art. Each boulder opal is a one-of-a-kind creation with its own intricate design.

Versatility in Jewelry: Boulder opals are highly sought after for use in jewelry. The contrast between the colorful opal and the earthy matrix makes for striking and unique pieces. Jewelry designers often celebrate the natural shapes and patterns of the opal within the matrix, creating pieces that are both elegant and unconventional.

Australian Opal: Boulder opals are primarily found in Queensland, Australia. The region is renowned for producing some of the world's finest opals. The Australian landscape and geology contribute to the formation of these exceptional gemstones, adding to their allure.

In conclusion, boulder opal is indeed a painted masterpiece of nature. Its captivating play-of-color, unique ironstone matrix, natural artistry, and versatility in jewelry make it a cherished gemstone among collectors and enthusiasts alike. Each piece tells a story of the Earth's geological processes, resulting in a work of art that stands the test of time.

 

Australian Opal Direct - Boulder Opal A Great Choice for Pendant Jewelry

 Boulder opal is a great volition to the other two main types of opal Black opal and White opal. Boulder opal is substantially vended in opal shops as a free form piece of rock . That means that the gravestone has its own individual shape rather than an round or a circle or a pear shape which black and white opals are typically cut into.

 

A free form shape won't look like any shape that you fete but will still be pleasing. Another major difference is that boulder opal will frequently not be smooth and domed on the top. We call this a baguette from an old French word which translates to the English word chapeau. We cut most opals into gemstones because it enhances their color characteristics by allowing the light to enter and exit the gravestone for maximum effect.

 

Black opal rings will substantially have an undulating face of the opal material sitting on a bed or dark brown ironstone. This means that the gravestone will need to have a jeweler make a special setting for the gravestone because ready made settings or castings generally come in round shapes which are made for baguette cuts of monuments and not free form monuments.

 

There are two sub types of boulder opal confluence and matrix. Confluence opal is set up where the opal material invades cracks in the ironstone gemstone. When the ironstone boulder is broken piecemeal of by running a bulldozer across it or hitting it with a big hammer the gemstone will resolve into two corridor. The opal will be in each part.

 

Matrix opal is where the opal runs in an erratic fashion throughout the gemstone. So the factual gravestone is cut and polished with the opal matrix within it. It makes great opal pendants.

 

Fire opal ring is heavier than black opal or white opal because it frequently has the ironstone with it so it makes it a little more delicate to make into some kinds of opal jewelry similar to an opal ring or opal earrings. clearly not insolvable to make into anything but for pendants 

Boulder Opal A Good Choice Of Hanging Jewelry

 Boulder opal is a different species than the other two main types of opal: black opal and White opal. Boulder opal is widely sold in opal earrings as a free component of gemstone. That means the stone has an individual shape rather than an oval or a circle or a pear shape in which black and white opals are usually cut.

The free form layout will not look like any other shape you notice but will still be fun. Another major difference is that boulder opal is usually not smooth and top notch. We call this a cabochon from an old French word that translates into the English word hat. Cut many opals into cabochons because they enhance their color features by allowing light to enter and exit the stone for maximum effect.

Boulder opal jewelry will usually have a fixed bed of opal sitting on a bed or a dark brown stone. This means that the stone will need the craftsman to make a special stone setting because the ready-made or molded settings usually come in oval cuts made of stone cabochon cuts and not free-form opal stone.

There are two subtypes of stone opal: seam and matrix. When the metal is broken by running the tractor across or hitting it with a large hammer the rock will split into two parts. Opal will be in each section.

Matrix opal is where opal works randomly across the rock. Boulder opal is heavier than black opal or white opal because it usually has a metal stone so it makes it very difficult to make other types of opal jewelry such as opal rings or opal earrings. It is certainly impossible to do anything without hanging paint is good and makes 

Australian Opal Direct

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HOW TO IDENTIFY RAW NATURAL OPAL?

Precious Opal which is formed from a solution of silicon dioxide and water. As water runs down through the earth, it picks up silica from sandstone, and carries this silica-rich solution into cracks and voids, caused by natural faults or decomposing fossils. 

As the water evaporates, it leaves behind a silica deposit taking millions of years to form Precious Opal in the Earth.

The internal structure of microscopic silica spheres of precious opal makes the Opal diffract light, meaning it can feature many colors depending on the conditions in which this internal structure formed.

The variety of natural opal is determined by the two characteristics of body tone and transparency.

Body Tone - The base tone for all Opal and can range from white, through the various shades of grey, to black.

Transparency - Opal can be opaque or transparent. When it is transparent, and the color clarity is sharp, it is often referred to as crystal opal.

There are so many different types of natural Opals. At Australian Opal Direct we have a wide range of different types of Natural Solid Opals to doublets and triplets. Here is a list with descriptions to better understand the difference between each Precious Opal Gemstone.

BOULDER OPAL

Boulder Opal is from the Opal fields of Queensland and is the strongest form of Australian Opal due to it being married to the ironstone. A process taking millions of years to form, Boulder Opal can feature many different brilliant rich colors and the dark ironstone backing creates a contrast that showcases the colored brilliance.

BLACK OPAL

Black Opal is from the region of Lightning Ridge and is characterized by the dark body tone. This dark body tone also creates a brilliant contrast if there are any colors within it, enabling the bright colors opal to really kick! Black Opal is often considered the most valuable and rarest type of Opal. Over the years, production of the material has lessened.  

WHITE OPAL

White Opal refers to Opal with a white milky body tone. Most of this type of Opal comes from Coober Pedy in South Australia. White Opal is one of the most common and recognizable forms of Australian Opal. Due to it’s white “milky” body tone, the opal colored flashes do not contrast as much as they do with Boulder and Black Opal.

To learn more about which location each Opal item we carry is from please click the “more section” underneath the item description.

Along with locations, there are different ways that Australian Opal is cut and set in jewelry. Opal can be set as a Natural Solid, a Doublet or a Triplet Opal. To learn more about these various cuts, please visit: https://australianopaldirect.com/pages.php?pageid=12

Australian Opal Direct offers custom designed Opal jewelry reflecting the unique characteristics of each individual rare gemstone. From mining to wholesaling to exporting and retailing, we have over 30 years of experience in the Opal industry. Our location, close to the source and direct from the Australian Opal Mines allows us to provide the best possible Opal Gem at the most affordable price.

Contact: 

Australian Opal Direct

Address: 5401 New Castle, Encino CA 91316

Email id: info@australianopaldirect.com

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