

Others, although rare, may have been overlooked and actually worth a lot more than initially thought. Some aren't worth the money and time to cut and polish, but are still very beautiful even in their raw state, and can look great displayed in jars, collections or even set into mosaics.

8.1 cts Australian Single Rough Opal, Rub Lightning Ridge 595.00. 8.1 cts Australian Single Rough Opal, Rub Lightning Ridge. All to make sure your purchase is a good experience. All our products are backed with great service. We specialise in all types of opal, including white opal, crystal opal, boulder opal, and the world-famous black opal. 8.1 cts Australian Single Rough Opal, Rub Lightning Ridge. Opals Down Under has one of the finest selections of opals you’ll see anywhere in the world. It's possible to buy rough loose opals, which are pieces of stone that have opal in them, but have not yet been cut and polished. 293 cts Australian Rough Black Opal Parcel, Lightning Ridge - Potch and Colour CMR 249.00.
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Ideally, opals should be set against a black or very dark opaque background to allow the colours to pop and be displayed to their full effect. Also, opals are a relatively soft stone, and the lack of facets means there's less chance of chipping and damage. The cabochon shape is the most popular cut for opals, as it shows off the colours best. Low cabochons are almost flat in appearance. Cabochons can be cut high, medium or low. Cabochon Loose OpalsĬabochon loose opals are cut and polished into oval-domed shapes. These types of opals tend to be cut and polished much thinner than other opals, as the colour band in them is quite thin. The vast majority of black opals are found in Lightning Ridge, a small town in the outback of New South Wales, which is primarily known for its opal industry.

Top-quality black opals can fetch an eye-watering $15,000 per carat, making them a very precious stone indeed. Many black opals have a backing on them known as potch, which serves to highlight the black colouring. The overall body of them is black with the characteristic fiery flashes of colour for which opals are known. Loose black opals are the most popular and well-known type. Thankfully, the discovery of stunning black opals in your country overcame the misconception, and they are once again appreciated for the complex, tiny items of beauty they are. One of the largest opals in the world was sold for 125,000 at auction in Alaska on Sunday, Feb. After this, the stone became associated with bad luck, and sales plummeted by over 50 per cent. This photo provided by Alaska Premier Auctions and Appraisals shows an opal specimen, Dec. Sir Walter Scott's novel Anne of Guerstein featured a heroine who died after a drop of holy water fell on her opal. The birthstone of October and the gift traditionally given for the 14th year of marriage, opals suffered a bad reputation in the 19th century. Although mined in other countries, such as Slovakia, your country produces more than 97 per cent of the world's opals. The national gemstone of your country, opals are renowned for their fiery glow and multi-coloured hues.
