SOURCE
The precious Opal can be found in several countries of the world including Ethiopia, Mexico, USA, Indonesia.
Our opals are sourced by Kerry, collected over her years of travel through Mexico and Lightening Ridge, Australia, including Ethiopian opal. Kerry has carefully selected these rare stones by studying their colour, pattern and clarity which is what makes them so valuable to us.
FORM
Opal is formed through a mixture of silicon dioxide and water. As water runs through the earth, it gathers silica from sandstone and transports its solution into openings and gaps, created by natural fissures or the decomposition of fossils. As the water gradually evaporates, it leaves behind a silica deposit, initiating a recurrent process that unfolds over extensive periods, ultimately culminating in the creation of opal.
COLOUR
Opal, renowned as the most magnificent of precious gemstones, reveals a kaleidoscope of spectral colours, ranging from the deepest blues and greens to golden oranges, delicate pinks to violet—a celebration of the entire spectrum. In the mesmerizing realm of precious opal, where the captivating "play of color" takes center stage, minuscule silica dioxide spheres maintain remarkable uniformity in size and meticulous alignment within orderly tiers and layers. This precision creates intricate structures that gracefully refract white light into a captivating array of colours spanning the spectrum, with the tiniest spheres evoking a delicate violet opalescence and their larger counterparts igniting a vibrant display of radiant red, seamlessly transitioning from violet to crimson.
In stark contrast, common opal or potch opal, where the "play of color" remains elusive, often presents subdued tones such as gray, black, white, or amber, occasionally revealing diverse hues. Silica dioxide spheres in this realm embrace diverse shapes, sizes, and arrangements, lending each common opal a unique character that entices those in pursuit of its mysteries.
RARITY
Opal stands as an exceptionally precious gemstone. Among commercially available gemstones, Gem Black, Boulder, Crystal, and White Opals reign supreme as the most valuable, boasting a complexity that surpasses even Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires, or Tanzanites, with a wide spectrum of valuation characteristics.
STRENGTH
Opals are relatively fragile, registering a 5.5 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, rendering them vulnerable to both scratches and breakage. Minor surface crazing, when properly treated, has a limited impact on their value. However, fractures significantly diminish their worth, making cracked opals unsuitable for jewelry. It's crucial to exercise extra caution when considering everyday wear of opal rings, bracelets, necklaces, or earrings.
PROPERTIES
Opals have drawn comparisons from writers to a diverse range of natural wonders, including volcanoes, galaxies, and fireworks. Enthusiasts have bestowed upon these extraordinary gemstones evocative names such as Pandora, Light of the World, and Empress. In the ancient Roman era, opals were imbued with symbolism representing love and hope, as evident in their name "opalus," synonymous with "precious stone."
Numerous cultures have attributed supernatural origins and mystical powers to opals. In Arabic folklore, opals were believed to descend from the heavens in bursts of lightning. Ancient Greeks held the conviction that opals bestowed the gift of prophecy upon their possessors and acted as protective amulets against disease. Throughout European history, opals have been cherished as emblems of hope, purity, and truth, holding a special place in the realm of gemstone lore and symbolism.
