Opals

Opals are gems millions of years in the making. Each is unique and holds it's own magic. Gazing into the depths of an opal can be like looking into a far away universe, or into a dreamy ocean lagoon, painterly colour adorns some, while others shoot pinpricks of fire.

The value of an opal is determined by the type of opal, the predominant colours it exhibits, the clarity or brilliance of these colours and the patterns in which the colours are arrayed.

Good patterns of the diffracted colours have an enormous impact on the value of the opal. Pinfire and small type patterns are more common, and thus less expensive than broad patterns or large flashes. Distinct patterns such as rolling flash, straw pattern, Chinese writing, ribbon, and especially harlequin, are very rare and considered collectors' items.