Opal is the ‘Queen of Gems’. It is unique among gemstones since no two Opals are ever exactly alike! The colors and patterns within each stone also changes with the angle of view. These flashes of colors make opal a truly fascinating gem. Opal has long been associated with good luck.

The term Black Opal is misleading as the opal is not ‘black’ in color. It has a very dark base body color, which enhances the brilliance of the diffracted colors. Opal is an amorphous form of silica related to quartz. It is a mineraloid and not a mineral since water forms 3% to 21% by weight. Opal is the national gemstone of Australia, which produces 97% of the world’s supply. South Australia alone meets 80%of the world’s demands.

Opal diffracts light due to its internal structure. It can take on many colors depending on the conditions in which it formed. Opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black.

Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white and greens are the most common. Its optical density varies from opaque to semi-transparent. While used as a gemstone, thin layers of opal are placed on basalt – a darker underlying stone, enhancing the natural colors of the opal.