Any Opal lovers out there? Show and Tell please.

[icy_jade]

My new to me Mexican opal 3.19 ct with 0.7 ct diamonds in platinum setting:



I can’t capture the rainbowy color play that I see irl in some lighting that is so captivating. Clearer not so blurry flashes versus the pic above.

 

[lilmosun]

My new to me Mexican opal 3.19 ct with 0.7 ct diamonds in platinum setting:



I can’t capture the rainbowy color play that I see irl in some lighting that is so captivating. Clearer not so blurry flashes versus the pic above.

So cool..love the bright colors, like little neon lights.

 

[lilmosun]

Pulled this out of the box today..faceted Ethiopian opal from katharath. I love how it both flashes and sparkles at the same time.. with the high dome it reminds me a bit like a disco ball.

 

[userangl28212003]

My new semi black/ honey colored Ethiopian ring from Amy K Opals on etsy. This dark opal is natural in color, and yes the color is just as good in person. I am showing her video because it captures the opal more accurately than I can with my camera.

 

[Caly27]

I’d love some guidance from all you opal experts out there. This thread has inspired me to start my first custom project, and I’m hoping to make it an opal ring with diamond halo. I understand that white opals are the least valuable, but I think they’re my preference at the moment (and fit the budget better). Something about this opal just “sings” to me, and I was hoping to get your assessment of it, i.e. whether it seems like a decent value, is a good prospect, and would do well in a ring. Any advice appreciated!

https://blackopaldirect.com/product/white-opal/3-60-ct-white-opal-11-5x10x5mm/

 

[Bron357]

I’d love some guidance from all you opal experts out there. This thread has inspired me to start my first custom project, and I’m hoping to make it an opal ring with diamond halo. I understand that white opals are the least valuable, but I think they’re my preference at the moment (and fit the budget better). Something about this opal just “sings” to me, and I was hoping to get your assessment of it, i.e. whether it seems like a decent value, is a good prospect, and would do well in a ring. Any advice appreciated!

https://blackopaldirect.com/product/white-opal/3-60-ct-white-opal-11-5x10x5mm/

Black opal direct is a reputable vendor, he has some lovely Australian opal at decent prices. The one you like is really lovely, but also have a look at the 2.29 carat Crystal opal for $3,000.
Slightly smaller and more expensive but the crystal opals are more magical in my book. Different viewing angles produce a completely different look. This one also has more broad colour including an impressive red flash. I’m a bit biased towards crystal opals ha ha.

 

[Caly27]

Black opal direct is a reputable vendor, he has some lovely Australian opal at decent prices. The one you like is really lovely, but also have a look at the 2.29 carat Crystal opal for $3,000.
Slightly smaller and more expensive but the crystal opals are more magical in my book. Different viewing angles produce a completely different look. This one also has more broad colour including an impressive red flash. I’m a bit biased towards crystal opals ha ha.

Thanks! The crystal opal you mentioned is gorgeous. Do they normally show up as how they’re photographed or are they usually more muted? I’m drawn to the white opal I posted in part because of the pastel colors (kind of remind me of a Monet). The crystal opal is beautiful, but I’m wondering if it will be too bold for me. If it would be more subdued in normal lighting and the white would be even less vivid, then I would lean toward the crystal.

 

[Bron357]

Thanks! The crystal opal you mentioned is gorgeous. Do they normally show up as how they’re photographed or are they usually more muted? I’m drawn to the white opal I posted in part because of the pastel colors (kind of remind me of a Monet). The crystal opal is beautiful, but I’m wondering if it will be too bold for me. If it would be more subdued in normal lighting and the white would be even less vivid, then I would lean toward the crystal.

Mostly opal perform poorly in low light ie indoor office / home lighting and night time lights (unless LED). Black opals perform better because of their dark tone background hence their higher price.
It’s hard to describe, but crystal opals have a more 3D colour play, whereas white opals (and black opals) don’t. So with crystal you can get vastly different colour displays depending on the viewing angle.
And if you’re buying opal, the more vivid and more red the better.
This photo is my white opal pendant alongside my crystal opal ring inside at nighttime. The white opal is hardly showing any colour whereas the crystal opal can still perform. Also, an opal with red in it performs better in low light. Red is the longest wavelength, blue / purple the shortest. The white opal I have has a purple green colourplay but you’re not seeing any purple in this low light condition.

 

[Rfisher]

Nothing compared to the lovelies posted on here -
But here’s my one and only. Probably never to be set, purchased 20+ years ago. Dug out to see if it was dried up due to talk on another thread on how to store.
I had chunks of opal in matrix that I liked more than this - but sadly no where to be found in the house.

 

[prs]

Nothing compared to the lovelies posted on here -
But here’s my one and only. Probably never to be set, purchased 20+ years ago. Dug out to see if it was dried up due to talk on another thread on how to store.
I had chunks of opal in matrix that I liked more than this - but sadly no where to be found in the house.

Depending on how big it is, I think it would make a gorgeous pendant for every day wear.

 

[JackTrick]

.

I think that looks lovely! What’s keeping you from doing something with it?

My first custom opal piece was just finished, and I’m so charmed with it!

 

[ZestfullyBling]

My well today

 

[JackTrick]

Sharing my collection. Opals were my first jewelry piece, and I continue to have a soft spot in my heart for them.

Lights off...


Lights on!

(Top right two are Australian, rest Ethiopian)


This fellow is new, and made me think of a glowing river.

And loose ones I need to do something with. Lights off...


And on!


Really wanting to find something to do with these two.

 

[T L]

Precision cut Mexican fire opal. No color play, but very orange nonetheless.

 

[JackTrick]

Omg. T L, help. I want to eat it.

It’s like a geometric peeled orange!

 

[Arkteia]

I don’t know why, but opals are avoiding me. I bought one opal in Australia and ended up selling it at a church auction, and another one I gave as a gift. Looking for a good Mexican opal, though.

Here are a couple of Welos

This one in contrast with a cherry opal like a boat, but no?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Got pics from sally or my black opal

 

[ZestfullyBling]

I don’t know why, but opals are avoiding me. I bought one opal in Australia and ended up selling it at a church auction, and another one I gave as a gift. Looking for a good Mexican opal, though.

Here are a couple of Welos

This one in contrast with a cherry opal like a boat, but no?

Love the colors on the welo and cherry opal. They really compliment each other!! Gorgeous!!

 

[Arkteia]

Here is an opal I saw at the exhibition. It had no name so I assume, Mexican?

 

[hiratop]

As good as it gets

 

[ilovegemstones]

Here are two boulder opals I have had for a while. I wear the one with tanzanites on it as a bracelet. I love the elongated one but cannot see the colour play around my neck! I threw in in my dragon egg opal ring too!







I

 

[MakingTheGrade]

 

[ZestfullyBling]

All we get is a 10 second video?!?!?! Come on...more! More! MORE!!

 

[MMtwo]

Wow
I finally got my opal to ring to add to the thread!




On a side note..why do some pictures show up sideways and how does one fix when they do?

Amazing stone! Congrats, I love it.

 

[MMtwo]

This thread is wonderful. I could generate 3 additional pages with comments pretty quickly. So ladies...I love them all.

I love opals too. I recently rehomed my solid crystal to my sister, but am left with a couple of doublets. I just picked the larger one up from an Australian miner cmallforhappylife. The smaller one is so much brighter, but super thin doublet. I love Australian Opal. Wish I could afford a lovely solid gem opal.

The larger one has an odd clear crystal in the middle, but if you hold it just right, it's hiding a red flash. Peekaboo.

 

[Punks-Tricks]

My 2.14ct Lightening Ridge Black Opal now in her new home!

 

[Rad_Fan]

Black Opal Ring, ca. 1970, in McNay Art Museum, Hour 1.

Antiques Roadshow | Appraisal: Black Opal Ring, ca. 1970 | Season 24 | Episode 13 | PBS

Appraisal: Black Opal Ring, ca. 1970

www.pbs.org

 

[paragon1234]

Ooh I love opals too. I have a cheap vintage opal and garnet ring I bought from eBay. The opal is Australian and is only a tiny slice, but it shows every colour.



I have a larger 9.84 carat Brazilian opal from opalauctions that is currently at a jewellers waiting to be set into a pendant with a small ruby. It has lots of orange and yellow. Here is a vendor pic.

 

[paragon1234]

I also have some Yowah boulder opals, also from opalauctions. No plans with them yet, I just like the swirly patterns.

Close up of the smallest one.

 

[Jadeite_101]

I love opals! A lot of these are reposts from my other threads...

Ethiopian Opals...


Australian Opals with Ethiopian Opals...