The most important types of opal: A comprehensive overview of origin and properties

Weltkugel in einem antiken Raum, deren Kontinente durch glänzende Opale dargestellt werden. Diese Opaldarstellung symbolisiert die Vielfalt der Opalarten, die je nach Art in unterschiedlichen Farben und Mustern auftreten (KI)

The comprehensive guide to the various

opal species and their origin

Opals are among the most fascinating gemstones in the world, famous for their unparalleled play of colors and immense variety. In this post, we'll dive deep into the world of opals to explore the different types of opal and their respective places of origin . We'll start with the main categories before moving on to the specific subspecies and their unique properties. After reading, you'll have a comprehensive overview of the main types of opal.

Zwei Ober-Opalarten: Oben gemeiner Opal (weißlich-beige, matt), unten Edelopal (blau-grün, schimmernd)

main categories of opals

Before we look at the specific types of precious opals, it is important to understand the main categories of opals. These can be roughly divided into two groups:

1. Common Opals (Non-Precious Opals)

Common opals show no play of color and have an irregular internal structure. They are usually opaque (not transparent) and come in a variety of colors, including white, gray, green and brown.

2. Precious opals

Precious opals are characterized by their intense play of colors, which varies depending on the viewing angle. Within this category, there are numerous subspecies that differ in their colors, origin and structure.

Click here to understand the physical structure and physics behind the refraction of an opal.

Mehrere schwarze Opale mit schimmernden Blau-, Grün- und Rottönen auf schwarzem Hintergrund, verschiedene Formen und Größen

Black Opal

Origin : Australia, mainly from Lightning Ridge.

Characteristics : Black opals are considered the most valuable and sought-after of all opals. They are characterized by a dark to black body stone on which the play of colors is particularly intense. These opals are often used in high-quality jewelry and are known for their dramatic variety of colors.

boulder opal

Origin : Australia, mainly Queensland.

Characteristics : Boulder opals are embedded in the host rock, giving them a unique texture and appearance. The color play of these opals is often more intense as it contrasts against the dark (often brown) host rock.

Weißer Opal mit schimmernden Pastellfarben, hauptsächlich in Grün-, Blau- und Rosatönen, auf schwarzem Hintergrund

White opal

Origin : Australia, particularly Coober Pedy.

Characteristics : White opals have a light to white body rock that exhibits a more delicate, yet still impressive play of color. They are widely available and are often used in more affordable jewelry.

Crystal Opal

Origin : Australia.

Characteristics : Crystal Opals are transparent to translucent and have an intense play of colors. They are considered particularly valuable because the light can penetrate deep into the stone, making the play of colors appear particularly vibrant.

Andamooka matrix opal

Origin : Australia, Andamooka.

Characteristics : These opals are embedded in the porous host rock and often display a colorful pattern that appears to glow from the matrix of the stone. They are unique and often very striking.

Welo opal

Origin : Ethiopia.

Characteristics : Welo opals are relatively "new" to the market, but have quickly made a name for themselves. More specifically, this type of opal was found in 2008 in the Wollo region (also known as the Welo region) in northern Ethiopia. The region is located in the highlands of Ethiopia. They are known for their vibrant colors enclosed in a transparent to translucent body. These opals can contain a lot of water, which can affect their appearance.

Mehrere mexikanische Feueropale in verschiedenen Größen und Formen, leuchtend orange und rot mit einem intensiven, feurigen Schimmer, auf schwarzem Hintergrund

fire opal

Origin : Mexico.

Characteristics : Fire opals have a translucent to transparent structure and shine in intense yellow, orange and red tones. Unlike many other precious opals, fire opals rarely show a play of colors. Instead, they are valued for their radiant colors.

Honduras opal

Origin : Honduras.

Characteristics : The Honduras Opal is known for its dark matrix with embedded, colorful opal spots. This combination makes it a fascinating gemstone with an intense play of colors.

Nahaufnahme eines Opals mit lebhaften, schimmernden Farben in Grün-, Blau- und Orangetönen, eingebettet in Muttergestein

Did you know?

The first documented finds of opals date from ancient times, around the 1st century BC, probably from the area of present-day Hungary. These so-called "Hungarian opals" were particularly sought after in ancient Rome and were considered extremely valuable gemstones. There are also deposits of opals in Germany, particularly in the region around the Ore Mountains. Although these German opals are of lower quality and often only show a weak play of color, they still represent an interesting piece of European mineral history. You can read more about the history here .

When processing opals, there are various techniques to emphasize the beauty of the stone. The most important processing forms are full opals, doublets, triplets and mosaic opals. You can find out more about this in our article .

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