Blue Opals - What Are They and Where Do They Come From?

 Blue Opals

Opal Jewellery is a form of silica similar to quartz but containing water within the mineral structure. Precious opal consists of small silica spheres arranged in regular patterns. The colour in precious stones is caused by the diffraction of white light breaking into virtually all the colours of the rainbow. This play of colour depends on the angle of incidence of the light and can change when the gem is turned. The size and spacing of the spheres also controls the colour range of this precious gem.

Where do they come from?

Over 95% of the world's supply is found in Australia. The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source. Another Australian town, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is where most black opals are found. It takes its name from the predominantly dark background they have. This darkness enhances the vibrant play of colour within the stone.

Whether an opal is 'black' or not can be determined by ignoring all colours and concentrating only on the overall body tone (background blackness level) of the opal.

Boulder opal gets its name from the fact that an ironstone backing is part of its natural formation. The colours can also be extremely bright and vivid. Gem quality 'boulder opal' can be very expensive competing in price with some of the black variety.

Fire opals are yet another type of this gemstone. They tend to be transparent and are found with a warm body colour ranging from yellow to orange. They do not have the 'play of colour' associated with other types of opal and look completely different. The most famous source of fire opals is Mexico. Hence these opals are popularly known as 'Mexican fire opals'.

In 1974 a Frenchman by the name of Pierre Gilson discovered a way of creating lovely blue opals with all the properties of a natural opal apart from the presence of water. The process takes over 12 months. The advantage of Gilson's variety is that it tends not to crack in the way that natural opal can when it loses its water due to extreme temperature changes. The Japanese have also 'cultured' the most beautiful fiery, blue opals using a form of quartz silica and zirconium oxide. They are initially formed in much the same way as Gilson's but are then impregnated with polymer as a stabilizer ensuring that the silica structure is completely cemented together and the vivid play of colour in is permanent. This created opal gem has fiery blue colours and flashes of turquoise which are truly breathtaking!

How do you value opals?

The most important factor affecting the price of an Opal is the 'play of colour', the actual colours themselves and the pattern of colour. Flashes of red will enhance the value as this means most other colours will be apparent. For evaluating Opals the thickness of the stone is considered, the appeal of the pattern of colours, the cut, the weight and the finish. The following factors should all be taken into consideration:

The play of colours in the opal.

The brightness of the stone.

The body tone of the gem.

The saturation and intensity of the colours..

Whether the opal appears dull when viewed from different angles.

Whether it is flat on top or has a rounded dome.

The size and weight.

The cut and shape.

How should I look after my opal jewellery?

Avoid extreme changes in temperature that could cause opals in your jewellery to crack.

Avoid knocking or scratching opal jewellery. Remove your jewellery when playing sport or gardening. Never wear your jewellery when carrying out household tasks like washing dishes or using chemicals or cleaning agents.

Clean your opal jewellery with a gentle detergent in warm water using a soft cloth or brush. After cleaning your opal jewellery should be rinsed in clean water to remove any residue.

Shop Now:https://australianopaldirect.com/

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

 Opal Jewellery is the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opals are formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone, so why not take a look at my website,for some beautiful examples on sale from selected retailers.

Shop Now:http://australianopaldirect.com/

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

 Opals are the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opal Jewellery is formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone, so why not take a look at my website,for some beautiful examples on sale from selected retailers.

Shop Now: http://australianopaldirect.com/

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

 Opal Jewellery are the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opals are formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone, so why not take a look at my website,for some beautiful examples on sale from selected retailers.

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

 Opal Jewellery is the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opals are formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone. 

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

 Opal Jewellery are the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opals are formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone, so why not take a look at my website,for some beautiful examples on sale from selected retailers.

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

 Opal Jewellery are the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opals are formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone, so why not take a look at my website,for some beautiful examples on sale from selected retailers.

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Australian Opal Direct

Address: 5401 Newcastle

Encino CA 91316

Contact Details:

Ph No: 8055749888

Email Id: info@australianopaldirect.com

Website: https://australianopaldirect.com

Opals - Fire and Beauty: What to Look Out for When Buying Opal Jewellery

Opal Jewellery are the stuff of legend! These beautiful gemstones have been popular since ancient times thanks to their beautiful play of colour and their opalescence, but these stones have also had the reputation of being unlucky. So why is this? I want to explain a little bit more about this delightful gemstone, a particular favourite of mine!

Even the name refers to beauty, since it means 'precious stone' and comes from Latin 'Opalus', or the Sanskrit 'upalas'. It is the birthstone for people born in October. It also appears as a Zodiac stone for those born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, and is the stone for the 13th wedding anniversary. Depends whether you consider the number 13 to be unlucky, I suppose!

The majority of quality opals are mined in Australia. Opals are formed from liquid silica which flowed into a gap or cavity and cooled, thus resulting in some very unusual shapes, such as wood, seashells and even dinosaur bones! This also means that opals have comparatively high water content, around 10%. For this reason they should never be allowed to dry out. Be especially careful with central heating radiators, or direct sun. I find it's best to keep them in a jewellery box or case when not being worn. Detergents can also affect them so don't do the washing up while wearing them! Not all opal is gem quality however, but the ones that are often need to be treated in order to make them more attractive and also to protect them from drying out. Opal stones can be manmade (either synthesized or altered in some way) and thus one can find many types of opal which are artificially produced. Therefore you need to be careful when selecting opal stone jewellery. The man made opals are sometimes called doublets or triplets. A doublet is a paper thin slice of genuine opal glued on a black backing, for example a piece of black onyx stone. Triplets are essentially doublets with a transparent glass, or quartz capping, and a plastic or stone back. A double opal is more valuable than a triplet because it contains more of the stone. Triplets are good because they are cheaper than a full stone while looking very attractive for a fraction of the cost. They are best found in rings, bracelets and necklaces. Silver necklaces seem to suit it best. Costume jewellery often contains triplets.

Opal is a stone of protection, faithfulness and loyalty. It is said that it can enhance super sensible vision and creativity. They are mystical gemstones of high vibrations. As such, they can have a wide spectrum of application on the physical as well as on the higher levels of existence. Some say that opal is able to absorb thoughts and feelings, to enhance them, and sent them back to the source. It is connected with the eye.

Mostly due to superstition, opal was considered bad luck. It was believed that opal can grant its bearer a power of invisibility - therefore it gained a bad reputation as an amulet for thieves. In Medieval times opal was generally disliked due to its similarities to the eyes of some "evil" animals. Thus, this beautiful stone used to provoke fear of the "Evil Eye". Yet others, like the Romans for example, considered that it granted protection from it, so make of that what you like! In my view, it seems a shame to let superstition prevent you from enjoying this lovely stone, so why not take a look at my website,for some beautiful examples on sale from selected retailers.