Opal is considered the most beautiful and unusual gem. Due to its special properties, it has a very complex structure. It has the most beautiful color highlights. These are not some inclusions, but the very structure of the mineral is so unusual, with overflows. It is for this beauty that the opal stone is highly valued. The mineral can be of different types and varieties, but noble opal is considered the most valuable stone. It will be discussed in our article. You will learn about its external features, application, look at photos of jewelry with a stone.
Description of the stone
The mineral opal is used not only in the jewelry industry, but in technology, various handicrafts. Most of all, the noble subspecies of this stone pleases. The description of noble opal should start with the fact that it is a kind of mineral with a play of color, which is called opalescence. Some stones are characterized by a monochromatic play of color, andothers are multicolored.
Jewelers are very fond of using this unusually iridescent stone. Opal in its structure is ordered spheres in different packages. They have equal diameters with a peculiar structure. Because of this, the color is reflected at different wavelengths, which creates an iridescent effect. From different viewing angles, the stone shimmers in a special way.
Opal is a mineral composed of water and silicic acid. It is a kind of quartz. It contains silica microparticles, thanks to which the effect of color refraction and play with different tones is achieved. This property makes the stone unique.
The formula of opal is the same as that of quartz, only it is an amorphous form. The stone contains from 5 to 30% water, which sometimes leads to cracking. All the colors of the rainbow are inherent in natural opals, there are more than a hundred of their varieties. The stone owes its multi-colored shades to its impurities: nickel, iron and other elements.
Types of opals
There are many varieties of opal, but three types are distinguished according to the main classification:
- Noble opal. It has an unusual beauty, due to flashes of color on the surface of the stone. There is a black noble mineral and crystalline. We will talk about black stones a little later. Jewelers most often use crystal opals. They are light and translucent, look very gentle in jewelry. Noble stones have many varieties, which will be discussed below.
- Ordinary opal. It is characterized by properties similar to a noble stone, only it has a uniform color. Multi-colored overflows are absent here. Ordinary opal is valued for the purity of its color. Pure white, yellow and orange minerals are found in nature.
- Boulder-opal. These are mineral crystals in iron ore.
From the history of the stone
Even in ancient times, jewelry opal was admired. This is evidenced by the descriptions of Pliny. He said that this stone is very difficult to describe because of its play of color. In the disgrace, he saw the violet reflection of amethyst and the soft green color of emerald. It all blends together and shines with a brightness that is hard to put into words.
From sources it becomes clear that already in ancient times, fraudsters managed to fake opal at a high level. For a long time, the stone was not used because of the widespread superstition that it brings bad luck. Many generations of people were afraid to wear opal until the black stone was discovered in Australia. It could not be replaced by anything else, so the popularity became overwhelming.
So, gradually began to discover more and more varieties of light and black opal. Light opals are yellowish, there are many of them. But the black noble species is rarer. It comes in dark blue and black and gray. Sometimes under the rays of the sun, blue opal shimmers with yellow.
Over time, for the classification of opal began to take into account its transparency, color and brilliance. The hardness of opal and its impurities are also valued. Today, the noble mineral is classified as precious stones,because a quality sample costs a lot of money. Opals are most often rounded or made into ovals. The stone is very fond of moisture, so it must sometimes be lowered into water or kept in a damp cloth.
Determining the quality of a mineral
Most of all opals are processed by private craftsmen. They have a milky color and a weak play of color. To conduct a test for the nobility of an opal, you need to move it away from your eyes at a distance of 60–90 cm. In daylight, the stone should sparkle with different colors. And if you need to bring the stone very close to see the overflows, then this is not a very high-quality material.
For opal, cabochon processing is most suitable. This is when the stone is made convex, polished and without facets. A polished opal cabochon is characterized by an oval or spherical shape, flat on one side. In general, this material lends itself not to cutting, but to polishing. Before the opal is polished, it is looked through in water or glycerin. This makes it possible to determine the direction of a beautiful overflow of color.
If wet conditions are not created for noble stones, they may crack. Only one white opal from Australia is an exception. To prevent such an unpleasant outcome, opals are subjected to a special treatment - stabilization.
Main sources of stone
Large deposits of opals are rare. They lie in thin layers or lenses. Australia leads in the extraction of opals, 97% of all mineral deposits are located here. The rest of the production falls on Mexico, Guatemala, Japan, the USA, Brazil, Honduras. The most sought after are Australian and Ethiopian opals.
The wide distribution of the mineral in Australia was the reason for declaring it a national stone. This is a very beautiful crystal, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. The natives even said that this mineral was created by a rainbow that fell to the ground. Black opals are also found in this country, the deposits of which make up only 5% of the total production of the mineral.
Ethiopian deposits were discovered 20 years ago. There they are found in bas alt and rhyolitic rocks. These minerals are colorful and multicolored. There are blue, blue and yellow specimens.
Variations of the noble species
There are a lot of varieties of iridescent mineral. It is worth mentioning the brightest specimens:
- White opal. Shimmers in white and blue tones, has a translucent color with milky hues.
- Fiery look. Half transparent stone, iridescent at an angle. It comes in red and burgundy colors. From the side it resembles the sparkle of fire.
- Gialitis. Features glass-like transparency.
- Hydrofan.
Stone Features
It is believed that if a person wears an opal, then the stone gives him its magical gift. The owner of the mineral can become a fortune teller, clairvoyant or guess the fate. In India, the stone is given to children to wear so that they are he althy and drawn to knowledge. Different peoples have their own idea of the properties of opal. Easternersassociate it with deceptive hopes, and Western representatives consider it a symbol of trust, hope and love. The mineral has a beneficial effect on the eyes and nervous system.
Opal is used for diagnostic purposes. If suddenly the owner starts to get sick, the pebble immediately changes color, warning of danger. This is especially evident in colds, when the temperature rises. Drying makes it change.
Opal is a great source of inspiration, it sparks the imagination. If the stone is worn by creative people, then their abilities are only activated. He has excellent cleansing abilities. The content of water in opal enhances feelings, desires, passion and love.
From the medicinal properties of opal, one can single out the ability to improve digestion. It relieves negative emotions and frustration. Green stone destroys viruses. Wearing a noble opal ring will help your heart and liver function.
The magical effect of opals
Each type of opal has a certain magical effect:
- Fire stone has protective properties. The owner acquires power and achieves his own. It contributes to the connection of internal energy, reserves, strength. This is a kind of symbol of hope, promising change. Fire opal is good for people to wear after an emotional shock, in order to more easily survive stress. This type of stone also attracts money and enhances the passion between lovers.
- Blue Opal grants wishes. They are used by those whodreams of transcending physical reality.
- Blue-green opal has the ability to open up new experiences, help in changing outlook on life. It helps to relieve emotional stress and worries.
- The green look is considered a stone of he alth. It rejuvenates, strengthens and cleanses the body. It also leads to stability in relationships. The owner of the stone rises emotionally and sees the meaning in life.
- Pink opal coordinates spirituality. Abilities are activated even more and headaches go away.
- Black opal is associated with increased attractiveness. It attracts good luck, has high energy to fill with vitality.
Price for opal jewelry
The price of products with a noble crystal is set depending on the color, shades and beauty of overflows. The most expensive is black opal. The price for it starts at $300 per carat. A white stone costs about $80 per carat.
But the stone didn't always have that value. She was greatly influenced by fashion and superstition. The fact is that opal tends to change color, become dirty, lose its luster. Some are frightened or, conversely, delighted by the unusual color of the mineral.
Methods of mineral upgrading
Today we learned how to make a synthetic opal stone. But there are many ways to refine a natural mineral. Often, stones undergo certain processing for beauty.
Sometimes the markets sell doublets and triplets soaked in smoke. They are made on the basis of stones, onwhich are topped with a noble opal. It is impossible to distinguish such an ennobled stone from a real opal at first sight. To do this, you need to take the stone in your hands and look at it from the side - the ennobled product will consist of two halves. Hence the name - "doublet".
Triples are also common. Their upper part resembles a hemisphere or dome made of glass or crystal. And the two lower ones are the same as those of the doublet. If the stone can be viewed in profile, three of its layers will be visible.
Most often, opals are ennobled with smoke. This is how stones are ennobled in Ethiopia. Sometimes the coloring of opal is used. Color can be made more saturated or bright.
Black noble opal
He is valued the most. He is also the most handsome. In the black stone, shades are accumulated, effectively emphasized by a dark background. It happens that several shades flicker on a black plane, and sometimes all the colors of the rainbow shimmer there. A black-colored noble opal can cost around $2,000 per carat. It almost compares to a diamond in this.
Jewellery with noble opal
Products inlaid with opals of unusual beauty are in great demand among connoisseurs of beauty. This stone is found in earrings, pendants, bracelets, brooches. Most often, opal is framed with silver, but gold items are also found. Such decoration will cost 12-15 thousand rubles. If the price of the product is lower, then this is not a real opal. Cheap noble mineral is not for sale. It is better to purchase such jewelry not onmarkets, and in specialized stores and salons. The choice of color palette of jewelry with opals is very large. Such products show the status of the owner, strong-willed qualities and taste of the owner.
