Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE HELP

[bluejet118]

So I'm looking to buy an opal from someone and he claims it's 100% Australian black cabochon opal. He says there are no cracks in the opal, what I am seeing is layering. I have no idea what that means. Here is a video link of the opal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXFqewZlGHA&feature=youtu.be

 

[BlingObsession]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

I have some black opal but nothing that exhibits cracks like that. Not sure what that would be. I know that jewellers often keep a little glass of water in the display cabinet to counter the dry heat of the lights. Maybe opals are prone to fractures if they get too dry? I am no expert but I wouldn't buy that stone.

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

That opal is badly crazed. Avoid it.

I'm not sure what layering is in natural untreated opal, or if it's a thing. I know triplets and doublets have layers when viewed from the side (cause the base and adhesive and opal are layered upon eachother)

 

[BlingObsession]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Here are some pics of my Lightening Ridge Black Opal to give you an idea of the surface finish you should be expecting ...

 

[chrono]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

That opal is badly crazed. Avoid it.

Avoid it like the plague! It is horribly crazed. Colour blocks do NOT look like that; they will not have irregular borders or lines. Yes, I do see the layering lines but the crazing lines are the strong ones that stand out.
http://www.gia.edu/opal-quality-factor

 

[missy]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

That opal is badly crazed. Avoid it.

Avoid it like the plague! It is horribly crazed.

I agree. Not a good stone.

 

[arkieb1]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

I can't tell if it's a dud opal or if someone has heated and wet the backing and it has done that underneath the opal. Or yep it's been glued in layers that are coming apart (you don't want that) I am an Aussie - have you tried some of the shops in Lightening Ridge?

http://lightningridgeinfo.com.au/buying-black-opal.html

There are sometimes decent opals on Aussie ebay as well, both Antique pieces and miners and shops selling their stones. Ask lots of questions & make sure they have a decent feedback rating before you purchase anything.

www.ebay.com.au

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Random opal eye candy (natural and untreated according to the seller)

 

[pregcurious]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Agree, it's badly crazed, which means it has cracks. Could you tell us who the vendor is?

 

[ilovegemstones]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Yikes! What everyone else said about the crazing is right. It would have been a stunning ring at one point though.

 

[GliderPoss]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

I too have some opal like that and yes that is cracks you are seeing - do NOT buy it!!! You must be very careful with buying opals.

In my case - sadly my mother took our family heirloom earrings & necklace to a (dishonest) local to be altered and he alledgedy "lost/misplaced" the extremely valuable opals from the earrings and replaced them with vastly inferior opals. My mum was not educated enough to tell the difference until she gave the set to me and I pointed out the massive difference between the stunning solid black/red opal pendant and the crappy blue/green triplet earrings... Jeweller has since left town no suprise...

 

[T L]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Random opal eye candy (natural and untreated according to the seller)

Seriously??? The pattern and color are so perfect, it screams fake. However, if it's real
It reminds me of those mosaic opal triplets you see everywhere.

Usually synthetic black opal looks "too perfect," which is a sign it might not be real.

 

[chrono]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Random opal eye candy (natural and untreated according to the seller)

Seriously??? The pattern and color are so perfect, it screams fake. However, if it's real
It reminds me of those mosaic opal triplets you see everywhere.

Usually synthetic black opal looks "too perfect," which is a sign it might not be real.

How does reflection of opal work? Do you think it is photoshopped based on its reflection on the base surface (looks plainer, mostly green PoC, and the patterning doesn't match up).

 

[T L]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Random opal eye candy (natural and untreated according to the seller)

Seriously??? The pattern and color are so perfect, it screams fake. However, if it's real
It reminds me of those mosaic opal triplets you see everywhere.

Usually synthetic black opal looks "too perfect," which is a sign it might not be real.

How does reflection of opal work? Do you think it is photoshopped based on its reflection on the base surface (looks plainer, mostly green PoC, and the patterning doesn't match up).

Good spotting Chrono, now I do suspect some photo tricks here. Maybe the color patches are reflecting differently too.

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

Random opal eye candy (natural and untreated according to the seller)

Seriously??? The pattern and color are so perfect, it screams fake. However, if it's real
It reminds me of those mosaic opal triplets you see everywhere.

Usually synthetic black opal looks "too perfect," which is a sign it might not be real.

How does reflection of opal work? Do you think it is photoshopped based on its reflection on the base surface (looks plainer, mostly green PoC, and the patterning doesn't match up).

Good spotting Chrono, now I do suspect some photo tricks here. Maybe the color patches are reflecting differently too.

I found the vendor by trying to find a little more info on the Tino Hammid alex because a friend of mine was curious about it. On the GIA article it appears in, it says a different alex photo by Tino Hammid is courtesy of Matt And Watt Gems. And so I found their site and that's where this opal appears. In a blog entry dedicated to it they said it was natural, and I feel silly for saying untreated, because I realised now they didn't specifically say that. I assumed after looking through the rest of their inventory which has some really nice stuff, and that's obviously not a smart assumption. Lol. I emailed them and asked them about treatment because I'm curious. If I was less shy I'd call.

http://mayerandwatt.com/gemstones/stones-photo-gallery/

I definitely see the reflection is more dull with less red though.

 

[T L]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

No biggie LK. I actually saw a spinel on 1stDibs yesterday that screamed synthetic (not a color that exists in nature, but very common in synthetics), but sometimes reputable dealers are duped. Unfortunately, it was sold. It's really sad, which is why lab reports are so important. I hope the opal is natural, because that would be an amazing work of Mother Nature.

 

[chrono]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

They have some nice stuff on their website. I've never observed the photographic reflection of opal, hence my question. I am aware that opal PoC will change as it is moved around or viewed at different angles, therefore it is a safe assumption that the reflected colour will be different?

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

They have some nice stuff on their website. I've never observed the photographic reflection of opal, hence my question. I am aware that opal PoC will change as it is moved around or viewed at different angles, therefore it is a safe assumption that the reflected colour will be different?

It is a good question Chrono. Up until now, having never really thought about it before, I've assumed that the reflection would be just as we see the stone, but it does change appearance as light hits it, so...

Photos please, opal people.

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

They have some nice stuff on their website. I've never observed the photographic reflection of opal, hence my question. I am aware that opal PoC will change as it is moved around or viewed at different angles, therefore it is a safe assumption that the reflected colour will be different?

Curious about this as well.

 

[LoversKites]

Re: Opal experts. Does this look like a genuine opal?PLEASE

They responded saying it is untreated. Hopefully the person who buys it will get a lab report to verify.