Would you like your droplet of the universe?
02 Jun 2023
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JDR2410: CGL Certified Opal Ring (Courtesy of Dynamic International)
Would you like your droplet of the universe?
A window to another world or the beautiful empress as we like to call it. Opal is known differently all over the world from “Pandora” to the “Sea landscape” , and to even Heaven itself!
Opal exhibits such a stunning display of colors because of its iridescent nature, it is what we call the play of color or the opalescence effect. Mesmerizing rainbow modulations changing at the smallest rotation of the Opal stone is caused by the refraction of light through submicroscopic particles of Silica. Yes, that is right, this infinitely beautiful gem of nature does not have any crystal structure other than the minerals it possesses.
It is formed as silica-rich groundwater hardens in rocks over millions of years, large silica spheres within the stone create these sacred geometrical plays of colors.
Why is Opal so expensive and rare?
It is said that a thousand 1-carat diamond cut in the same pattern of the same grade looks practically identical but a thousand top-quality black opals from Australia, each, possess their own fingerprint of an incredibly amazing spectrum of colors that can never be spotted twice.
Opals come in a range of colors from white to clear black, however, it is this iridescent quality that distinguishes a top-grade opal from a common one.
The real value of Opal is purely determined based on various factors like colors, brightness, and patterns. Each of these factors can influence the price of an opal significantly. To date, the best quality opals consist of traits like glowing bright colors on a contrasting black base, and the dark base illuminates the stunning colors on top, giving it a glorious unforgettable radiance.
Out of all the opals, black opals have dominated the market to be the most expensive one yetof all the other ones. Per carat can cost up to 10,000 dollars, commonly the range for top-quality black opals starts from 1,000 to hundreds and thousands of dollars. Astonishing rates come with tough mining conditions that follow greater uncertainties.
All of these factors can only be put into perspective once the rough opal has been mined from the dirt, cleaned, cut, and then polished for inspection. The occurrence of these opals' pockets is based on pure fate, this is what makes them so incredibly rare. Nobody can determine the exact location of a good quality opal and with increasing demand for these beauties, it is anticipated to be incredibly hard and expensive for the miners to excavate these precious opals.
Over the years, Australia's lightning ridge has become the dominant supplier of premium quality black opals in the market. It is reported that about 90% of the black opals are excavated from Australia, however, Honduras has been the oldest opal mine to date. There are various other places around the world where opals are found, in fact, Ethiopian opals are second on the list to be the best quality after Australian black opals. Each location exhibits a unique trait that can be seen in the opals, we have the prettiest pastel opals from Brazil, opals from volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, and Mexican fire opal that shines the brightest under the rays of the sun.
Opals come in a range of colors from white to clear black, however, it is this iridescent quality that distinguishes a top-grade opal from a common one.
The real value of Opal is purely determined based on various factors like colors, brightness, and patterns. Each of these factors can influence the price of an opal significantly. To date, the best quality opals consist of traits like glowing bright colors on a contrasting black base, and the dark base illuminates the stunning colors on top, giving it a glorious unforgettable radiance.
Out of all the opals, black opals have dominated the market to be the most expensive one yetof all the other ones. Per carat can cost up to 10,000 dollars, commonly the range for top-quality black opals starts from 1,000 to hundreds and thousands of dollars. Astonishing rates come with tough mining conditions that follow greater uncertainties.
All of these factors can only be put into perspective once the rough opal has been mined from the dirt, cleaned, cut, and then polished for inspection. The occurrence of these opals' pockets is based on pure fate, this is what makes them so incredibly rare. Nobody can determine the exact location of a good quality opal and with increasing demand for these beauties, it is anticipated to be incredibly hard and expensive for the miners to excavate these precious opals.
Over the years, Australia's lightning ridge has become the dominant supplier of premium quality black opals in the market. It is reported that about 90% of the black opals are excavated from Australia, however, Honduras has been the oldest opal mine to date. There are various other places around the world where opals are found, in fact, Ethiopian opals are second on the list to be the best quality after Australian black opals. Each location exhibits a unique trait that can be seen in the opals, we have the prettiest pastel opals from Brazil, opals from volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, and Mexican fire opal that shines the brightest under the rays of the sun.
