The Opal Guide
Opals are found in several regions around the world, each known for distinct characteristics and formation conditions. While Ethiopian and Mexican opals are more commonly seen on today’s market, our work focuses primarily on Australian opals, widely regarded as the most stable and valuable.
Opal Myths
– Opals bring bad luck
Many cultures have credited opal with supernatural origins and powers. Arabic legends say it falls from the heavens in flashes of lightning. Greek mythology stated that opals originated from Zeus’ joyful tears after winning the battle against the Titans. Meanwhile, Australian aborigines believed that the Creator came to Earth on a rainbow, leaving these colorful stones where his feet touched the ground. Europeans have long considered the gem a symbol of hope, purity, and truth.
However, that perception changed with the 1829 publication of Sir Walter Scott’s book, “Anne of Geierstein.” The story featured an enchanted princess who wore an opal that changed colors with her moods. But when a few drops of holy water extinguished the stone’s magic fire, the woman soon died. People began associating opals with bad luck. Within a year after publication of Scott’s book, opal sales in Europe fell by 50 percent.
When opal deposits were discovered in Australia after 1850, the gemstone’s perception changed yet again. The country started to produce 95 percent of the world’s opal supply and many of the most beautiful specimens. People once again clamored to wear opal jewelry.
– Opals need to be stored in water to prevent cracking.
Australian Opal is actually non-porous, meaning nothing can get into the stone, hence, adding water to it will effectively do nothing for your stone.
– Opals are very fragile.
Yes, opal is more fragile than some other gemstones but it is not as fragile as people think. Opal is roughly the same hardness as glass, coming in between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale; turquoise is comparable at 5 to 6 on the hardness scale.
– Opals need to be conditioned with oils
Opals don’t need to be treated with oil to keep them looking their best.
When an Australian opal is polished, it is sealed. Adding oils will not add life to your opal.
– Australian opals can’t get wet
Solid Australian opals won’t be damaged by getting wet as opposed to Ethiopian opals that can loose its color & shine after getting wet.
Opal Types
Australian opals include white, crystal, dark and black opals, as well as boulder opals, each defined by body tone, transparency and play-of-color. Ethiopian opals, known for their brightness and affordability, and Mexican fire opals, valued for their warm body color, are also part of the broader opal family, though they differ significantly in structure and long-term wearability. Our collection emphasizes Australian opals, chosen for their natural stability, depth of color and suitability for fine jewelry designed to last.
Opal Mining
Solid Australian opals are natural opal gemstones that have been mined straight from the ground as a rough piece of opal, which has then been cut and polished to perfection.
Most Australian opals are ethically mined by small teams in outback locations like Lightning Ridge or White Cliffs in NSW, Coober Pedy in South Australia, and Winton, Jundah and Opalton in Western Queensland.
Rough opal can take the form of a nobby, be found in a seam, or be uncovered in its ironstone host rock, as is the case with Queensland boulder opal.
Australia is the world’s leading producer of commercial, gem grade opal and is recognised as producing the finest opal in the world.
Opal Care
Clean your opal jewelry using warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush.
Avoid any harsh chemicals when wearing opal jewelry.
Avoid direct contact with perfume and lotions.
If you need to store your opal away for a period of time, simply place it in a padded cloth bag for protection and store it away.
Remove your opal jewelry before playing sports, gardening, household cleaning, moving furniture etc.
It’s important to note that opals should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, as the extreme vibrations may cause the opal to crack.
Opals are found in several regions around the world, each known for distinct characteristics and formation conditions. While Ethiopian and Mexican opals are more commonly seen on today’s market, our work focuses primarily on Australian opals, widely regarded as the most stable and valuable.
Opal Myths
– Opals bring bad luck
Many cultures have credited opal with supernatural origins and powers. Arabic legends say it falls from the heavens in flashes of lightning. Greek mythology stated that opals originated from Zeus’ joyful tears after winning the battle against the Titans. Meanwhile, Australian aborigines believed that the Creator came to Earth on a rainbow, leaving these colorful stones where his feet touched the ground. Europeans have long considered the gem a symbol of hope, purity, and truth.
However, that perception changed with the 1829 publication of Sir Walter Scott’s book, “Anne of Geierstein.” The story featured an enchanted princess who wore an opal that changed colors with her moods. But when a few drops of holy water extinguished the stone’s magic fire, the woman soon died. People began associating opals with bad luck. Within a year after publication of Scott’s book, opal sales in Europe fell by 50 percent.
When opal deposits were discovered in Australia after 1850, the gemstone’s perception changed yet again. The country started to produce 95 percent of the world’s opal supply and many of the most beautiful specimens. People once again clamored to wear opal jewelry.
– Opals need to be stored in water to prevent cracking.
Australian Opal is actually non-porous, meaning nothing can get into the stone, hence, adding water to it will effectively do nothing for your stone.
– Opals are very fragile.
Yes, opal is more fragile than some other gemstones but it is not as fragile as people think. Opal is roughly the same hardness as glass, coming in between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale; turquoise is comparable at 5 to 6 on the hardness scale.
– Opals need to be conditioned with oils
Opals don’t need to be treated with oil to keep them looking their best.
When an Australian opal is polished, it is sealed. Adding oils will not add life to your opal.
– Australian opals can’t get wet
Solid Australian opals won’t be damaged by getting wet as opposed to Ethiopian opals that can loose its color & shine after getting wet.
Opal Types
Australian opals include white, crystal, dark and black opals, as well as boulder opals, each defined by body tone, transparency and play-of-color. Ethiopian opals, known for their brightness and affordability, and Mexican fire opals, valued for their warm body color, are also part of the broader opal family, though they differ significantly in structure and long-term wearability. Our collection emphasizes Australian opals, chosen for their natural stability, depth of color and suitability for fine jewelry designed to last.
Opal Mining
Solid Australian opals are natural opal gemstones that have been mined straight from the ground as a rough piece of opal, which has then been cut and polished to perfection.
Most Australian opals are ethically mined by small teams in outback locations like Lightning Ridge or White Cliffs in NSW, Coober Pedy in South Australia, and Winton, Jundah and Opalton in Western Queensland.
Rough opal can take the form of a nobby, be found in a seam, or be uncovered in its ironstone host rock, as is the case with Queensland boulder opal.
Australia is the world’s leading producer of commercial, gem grade opal and is recognised as producing the finest opal in the world.
Opal Care
Clean your opal jewelry using warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush.
Avoid any harsh chemicals when wearing opal jewelry.
Avoid direct contact with perfume and lotions.
If you need to store your opal away for a period of time, simply place it in a padded cloth bag for protection and store it away.
Remove your opal jewelry before playing sports, gardening, household cleaning, moving furniture etc.
It’s important to note that opals should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, as the extreme vibrations may cause the opal to crack.