BUYING OPALS FOR JEWELLERY DESIGN
For ages people have believed in the healing power of Opal. It is reported to be able to cure depression and to help its wearer find their true love. Opals are the birthstone for people born in October under the zodiac sign of Libra. Opals are also supposed to further enhance the positive characteristics for people born under the zodiac sign of Cancer. Black Opal is recommended to those born under Scorpio, and Boulder Opal is the lucky stone for Aries.
Unlike other gemstones, every Opal is absolutely unique allowing the Opal purchaser to find an Opal that will be one of a kind and express their own personality.
There are many types of Opal available from white Opal to black Opal to the unusual ‘picture’ boulder Opals and fiery crystal Opals. Most Opal today is Australian Opal, however Mexican Opal, Brazilian Opal and the USA Opal are also sources of fine Opal.
Opal colour preference varies greatly from country to country. Any solid Opal with good colour will always hold it’s value so choose the colour that appeals to you most. There is no right and wrong when it comes to choosing an Opal colour, only personal preference.
When buying Opal Beads or Opal Cabochons you should take great care to check the type of Opal that you are buying. There is a great difference between a solid Opal and a ‘Doublet’ or a ‘Triplet’. A doublet is a thin slice of Opal glued onto what is often a piece of Boulder Opal or sometimes a much cheaper stone backing. This stone backing can be created from a black stone such as Onyx to bring out the colour in the Opal and to give the appearance of a much more valuable Opal. A triplet is an even thinner slice of Opal set between a dark base and a crystal top layer to give the appearance of a much more valuable stone. When an Opal is cut for use in triplets it may produce enough slices to create hundreds of Opal triplets.
When buying your Opal you should always ask your Opal supplier whether the Opal is solid. You should also check the back of the Opal as you will see immediately if the Opal you are buying a triplet or a doublet. A reputable Opal dealer will always be able to provide you with a written guarantee that you are buying a solid Opal. Opal triplets and Doublets can often be very attractive and desirable stones however you should bear in mind that any jewellery you create from these Opal cabochon types will need to have an enclosed back to disguise the layers.
When purchasing your Opal you should take great care to ensure that the Opal you are buying is in fact genuine. Many Opal sellers sell imitation and lab created Opal as genuine Opal. A reputable Opal supplier will always be able to tell you the origin of the Opal.
Opal Care: Do not use harsh cleansers on your opal and do not clean opals with ultrasonic cleaners. Never rub oil on an opal, because although it makes the fire brighter it can damage the opal. It is recommended that you periodically soak opals in water to help them reabsorb lost moisture.
