Opal gemstones: Opal values, Opal prices, opal information What makes opal valuable? how much is opal worth? what is my opal worth?

Opal is the product of water that drenched dry ground in regions such as Australia’s semi-desert “outback.” The showers soaked deep into ancient underground rock, carrying dissolved silica downward.  The silica spheres deposit and during dry periods, the water evaporates leaving deposits of silica in between layers of underground sedimentary rock. The silica deposits form opal.

Opal is known for its unique display of flashing rainbow colors called play-of-color. There are two broad classes of opal: precious opal and common opal. Precious opal displays play-of-color, common opal does not.  Play-of-color occurs in precious opal because it’s made up of silica spheres which have stacked in a grid-like pattern. As light-waves travel between the spheres, the waves diffract, or bend. As they bend, they break up into the colors of the rainbow, called spectral colors. Play-of-color is the result.

Although gem opals can be divided into many different categories, five of the main types are:

• White opal: Translucent to semi-translucent, with play-of-color against a white or sometimes even a light gray background or bodycolor.
• Black opal: Generally translucent to opaque, with play-of-color against a black or other dark background.
• Fire opal: Transparent to translucent, with brown, yellow, orange, or red bodycolor. Often times without play of color. (red is the most valuable.
• Boulder opal: Translucent to opaque, with play-of-color against a light to dark background. Fragments of the surrounding rock, called matrix, become part of the finished gem.  In other words you will see the host rock in this type of opal
• Crystal opal: Transparent to semitransparent, with a clear background. This type can show exceptional play-of-color.

Did you know?
In 1829 The novel “Anne of Geierstein” gave opal a reputation of being unlucky but actually is only unlucky if you haven't purchased yourself some!

Calculating the value of an opal is actually quite complex as many factors go into valuation of an opal

1. type of opal
2. play of color- type of play of color as well as intensity and colors present
3. crazing
4. origin
5. size
6. shape

As internationally recognized opal experts we are serious buyers of opals.  In fact we currently have opals on display in museums!  If you have loose, or mounted opal in jewelry we would love the opportunity to evaluate it!

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