Solid Opals

Most Opals are cut into what we call ‘Solids’ this simply means that it’s a solid piece of opal, no joins or backings. Solids come in every colour, shape, size and price and can be put in water without worry.

Crystal Opal

Is a transparent ‘Solid’ Opal with bright colours flashing through it. It is the most desired find of the Coober Pedy Opal miners, Being one of the most sought after of the Coober Pedy Opals. Crystal Opal is called ‘Crystal’ because of its transparency.

Milky Opal

A ‘Solid’ White opal that is less valuable of the Coober Pedy Opals, It is called Milky because of its pale colour and lack of intense bright colours.

Black Opal

Is a naturally dark ‘Solid’ Opal, Black Opal is not just black as the name suggests, It is a dark opal with bright colours flashing through it.

Boulder Opal

Is a bright ‘Solid’ Opal that is usually cut with its natural Ironstone base left on it giving it more body. Boulder opal is not mined in Coober Pedy.

Matrix Opal

Is a Beautiful ‘Solid’ Opal that is a natural matrix/composite of opal and a mother stone which sometimes gives a speckled appearance. Matrix is often ‘cooked’ in a solution creating a contrast in the mother stone allowing the natural colour of the opal to be seen.

Doublet & Triplet Opal

A ‘Doublet’ is a thin layer of Solid Opal that is laminated to a base of dark material making up 2 layers.

A ‘Triplet’ is a doublet with a clear cap of either glass or quartz making up 3 layers.

Opal is weighed in Carats, Five Carats is equal to one gram.

Hardness of opal is in between 5 - 6, Opal is approximately as hard as glass. We recommend not to wear Opal everyday because they may become scratched and appear dull. To keep your opals as shiny as new, you can wash them in warm soapy water with a soft toothbrush, this will remove everything from the surface of the stone. DO NOT use toothpaste, this will scratch opal.