Opal

OPAL

A fascinating and truly exceptional gemstone

OPAL SPECIALISTS

We specialise in Australian fine quality black, crystal and boulder opal

Our journey began in the opal mining fields of Lightning Ridge, Australia 35 years ago...

1986 and Lightning Ridge was in full swing as a new field the other side of the Coocoran lake had been discovered. One of the first patches was called Allah's rush and overnight fortunes were being made and lost!


Miners from all over the world congregated on this area found approximately 20 Kilometres to the east of the town and a patch or "Rush" often named after the opal miner that initially found them bore outlandish names such as Dead Bird, T bone, Magpie, Three tree's, Beno's , Kellie's, Molyneux, Norway and Moonshine but to name a few!


The "In town"  fields were largely left and sealed as opal seemed to be being found in larger quantities the other side of the lake. "In town" or "Old mine" fields also bore names such as "Lunatic Hill", Potch Point, Frying Pan, 3 mile,  Beckets 6 mile, Shearer's 6 mile plus many more.


Many people (and I included ) still feel however that the best and most red and blackest opal came from these fields.

You could hear French, Greek, Italian, German, Norwegian, Yugoslav spoken at the two main bars in town and stories of incredible finds and record prices were constantly discussed over large quantities of cold beer and the odd whiskey chaser.


This was a great time to be in Lightning Ridge and just so happened to be when I arrived!

Black, Crystal and Boulder opal

Black Opal from Lightning Ridge Australia is where it all started and therefore remains one of our greatest passions.   


We are master cutters of fine opal and to this day have retained a close friendship and contacts on the Australian mining fields. 


Opal is the most unique stone, both in colour and pattern of any gemstone on earth as well as being one of the rarest of gems comparatively speaking. It's home is primarily Australia and more particularly Lightning Ridge in the far north-northwest of New South Wales (black opal).


Opal is found in and around the Great Artesian Basin, which during the Cretaceous period 140 millions years ago was a giant inland sea, that covered  some 676,250 sq. miles, in area and was the most extensive basin in the world.

Silica rich sands around 30 million years ago turned, because of weathering and climatic changes, into a soluble form of silica which flowed into faults and fissures eventually solidifying into what we call today common opal, and in fairly rare cases into gem quality opal.


It is believed that this soluble silica replaced cavities in the mud left by bones, wood and a good deal of crustaceous forms (we still find opalised coloured shells, bones and wood today) this mud level is today called the ‘opal level’, ‘opal dirt’ or just ‘the level’, this partly explains the diversity of shapes and forms of rough opal.


The colour in opal is caused by the formation of tiny spheres, rather than a proper crystal structure, and it’s the size of these, and the way the light ‘plays’ on them, that gives opal its huge diversity of colours.

The Great Artesian Basin area of Australia produces about 90% of the world’s opal; hence opal was proclaimed the Australian national gemstone on the 28th of July 1993.

The Lightning Ridge area in the far north west of South Wales is the largest producer of black opal and the only real supplier to the world markets.


What is black opal?


A black opal is a natural solid stone usually possessing an opaque body colour ranging from dark gray to black, and from which background the overlying spectral colours are enhanced. This occurs because the dark background of the opal absorbs the otherwise scattered white light which is developed in lighter varieties of opal and which invariably dilutes and diffuses the colour play. Consequently, the visual impact and brilliance of the spectral colours are much enhanced.

Light and Crystal Opal


Light opal body colour ranges from near opaque through to translucent . The more transparent varieties are referred to as crystal and are among the most beautiful light opals.

The rarest , and some of the most expensive and sought after are called "Black crystal" with the majority of stones coming from Lightning Ridge NSW .

The word  "Crystal" in opal terminology  refers to the transparency or translucency of the stone  and not to its structure, so in effect  is a misnomer, as opals do not possess a true crystalline structure.


Boulder Opal


This material occurs as thin veins in sedimentary ironstone boulders, hence the name. It can sometimes be found with clear translucent colours of outstanding beauty. The colour layer is naturally bonded to the dense brown ironstone base, and is inseparable from it. These opals come from Queensland and are unique to Australia. Boulder opal is usually less expensive than black opal of the same apparent quality.

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