Here at Opals Down Under, not only do we like to see our Australian Opals go to good homes, but we are also here to educate you on what an Opal is, how opal is valued, where it is mined, and various other facts and figures to take in. Here you can also find our top tips on choosing your dream opal engagement ring. If you still have any questions after reading through the information provided, please feel free to contact us.
Embracing the Magic of Crystals: A Beginner's Journey Welcome to the world of crystals, where ancient wisdom meets modern fascination. As a beginner, the realm of gemstones may seem overwhelming, but fear not! This essential guide offers practical tips and advice to nurture your precious…
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Discovering the Magic of Crystal Meanings Crystals have captivated humanity for centuries with their mystical allure and inherent energies. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the enchanting world of crystal meanings and uncover the unique qualities each gemstone possesses. Explore how crystals can be…
Read More >A relatively soft stone (ranking 6.5/10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale), Australian Opal has a hardness that is relative to glass, so it is important to treat your Australian Opal with care to avoid any potential damage. If there is a chance your opal…
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FAQ : What is the history of opal? Are opals bad luck? Is opal bad luck? Why and when did superstition begin to surround opal? Opal... the Bad Luck Stone? For many years, the opal has tried to shake off rumours and wives tales…
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A guide to purchasing opals. FAQ : What to look for in an opal - What is a doublet? What is a triplet? How do I buy opals? What are the different types of opals? How can I get value for money when I'm buying an…
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Most common words are below: Agitator - or 'agi' for short; a modified cement mixer used to wash and tumble opal dirt. Usually set up adjacent to a dam for water supply. Amorphous - a word meaning "without form", applied to gems and minerals that…
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Frequently Asked Questions: What is a Doublet Opal? What is a Triplet Opal? What is the difference between Doublets, Triplets and Solid Opals? What happens when Doublets or Triplets get wet? Why do some opals go cloudy? How should I care for a Doublet or…
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Myth: Opals need to be soaked in water occasionally to prevent cracking. Fact: Australian Opal is non-porous and therefore impervious - it cannot soak up water, oil, or anything else. The water content in an opal is determined during the formation of the stone, with…
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Shop our range of Unset Boulder Opals FAQ: What is a boulder opal? What colour are boulder opals? Where are boulder opals mined? What is the value of a boulder opal? Appearance Australian Boulder opals are the second most valuable type of opal (following black…
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Shop our range of Unset White & Crystal Opals FAQ: What is a white opal? What colour are white opals? Where are white opals mined? What is the value of a white opal? Appearance Also known as 'milk' or 'milky' opals, Australian white opals are…
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FAQ: What is a crystal opal? What colour are crystal opals? Where are crystal opals mined? What is the value of a crystal opal? Appearance The term "crystal opal" refers to any kind of opal (i.e. black opal, white opal, semi-black opal) which has a…
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Embarking on a journey through the captivating world of gemstones, we delve into the exquisite allure of semi-black opals. These remarkable gems, also known as dark opals, hold a place of high regard among the treasures of the Earth. With a play-of-colour that seems to…
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Shop our range of Black Opals FAQ: What is a black opal? What colour are black opals? Where are black opals mined? What makes a black opal black? What is a semi-black opal? How are black opals valued? How much is a black opal worth?…
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What is opal? Where does opal form? What causes the colours in opal? What is potch? How does opal form? Opal, a precious gemstone of exceptional allure, holds a prominent place in the world of minerals. But what exactly is opal, and where does it…
Read More >FAQ : What are the different types of opals? What is Black Opal? What is Crystal Opal? What is Boulder Opal? What is White Opal? What is the difference between the types of opals? What are the different types of opal? What is a doublet?…
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The Opal Inlay Ring is a style of ring where the opal flows along the curvature of the band, providing a sleek, smooth look. This has become a popular style of ring due to its simple, yet effective appeal, however, there are a few attributes…
Read More >Taking care of opals is essential to maintain their natural beauty and luster. Here are simple tips to keep your opals looking stunning: Gentle Cleaning: Use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe away any dust or dirt on your opal. Avoid abrasive materials or…
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Opal rings are special—they're not just jewellery; they're like tiny pieces of nature's art. The beautiful colours inside these gems tell stories of elegance, uniqueness, and timeless beauty. It doesn't matter if you know a lot about gemstones or if you're buying jewellery for the…
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"Aurora Australis" (picture and information courtesy of Altmann & Cherny) The "Aurora Australis" was found in 1938 at Lightning Ridge and is considered the world's most valuable black opal. The oval, cut and polished stone has a harlequin pattern with dominant red, green and blue colors…
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Shop our range of ready- made opal engagement rings FAQ: Where can I find an opal engagement ring? Are opals suitable for engagement rings? Where can I find opal wedding rings? Does Opals Down Under custom make opal engagement rings? Australian opals, also known as…
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FAQ: Are opals suitable for mens' rings? Do men wear opal rings? Are opals strong enough for a man's opal ring? Opals are one of the world's most amazing gemstones, and men all over the world are taking advantage of opal's striking colours to create…
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FAQ Where are the opal fields in Australia? Where are opals mined? Where is opal mined? Where is opal mining done? When was opal discovered? Although there are lots of opal mining towns in Australia there are four which have become household names - Coober…
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The home of Australian Black Opal FAQ Where are the opal fields in Australia? Where are black opals mined? Where are the Lightning Ridge opal fields? New South Wales produces the largest proportion of Australian opal in terms of value. Lightning Ridge is famous for…
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The home of Australian Boulder Opal Queensland produces boulder opal, an unique type of opal which is found attached to a host rock, ironstone. Boulder opal is unique to Queensland, and occurs in deposits in weathered sedimentary Cretaceous rocks in the west of the state. Much…
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The home of Australian White & Crystal Opal South Australia, by weight would produce most of Australia's opal. Fields such Coober Pedy, Andamooka, Mintabie, and Lambina produce stunning White and Crystal Opals. Welcome to the serene world of opal mining in South Australia, where a…
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FAQ : What is the history of opal / opals? Who discovered opals? When was opal first found? In a cave in Kenya, Louis Leakey, the famous anthropologist, uncovered the earliest known opal artifacts. Dating back to about 4000 B.C., they most likely came from…
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FAQ : How is opal valued? What makes a good opal? What are the different patterns in opal? What faults can opal have that detract from its value? What is the play-of-colour? What should I look for in a good opal? How are opals valued?…
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FAQ : How is opal mining done? What is noodling? How are opals mined? How is opal mined? What is open-cut mining? How are opals processed? Opal is one of the few minerals which can be extracted economically by a miner working alone. The simplest…
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FAQ : How do I take care of opals? What is the best way of caring for opal? What is a doublet? What is a triplet? How do I clean my opal? What happens if I get my opal wet? Because we love opal, we…
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FAQ : What are opal fossils? Where are black opal fossils found? What does opalized / opalised mean? Lightning Ridge - Black Opal Fossils Only one place on Earth produces black opal fossils - Lightning Ridge in northern New South Wales, Australia. Lightning Ridge is…
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FAQ: Which is better, black opal or boulder opal? What is black opal? What is boulder opal? What is the difference between black opal and boulder opal? How are black opals valued? How are boulder opals valued? Black opal has long been the most prized…
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A new era for opal nomenclature Anthony Smallwood FGAA, GG Chairman, G.A.A. Opal Nomenclature Sub-committee Abstract Opal is a relatively common mineral species that is found in many locations world wide. For many years a reason for the spectacular phenomenon known as play-of-colour, as…
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Safety on the opal fields Australia produces over 90 per cent of the world's precious opal, and more than half comes from NSW opal fields. The major opal-producing areas in NSW are Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs. Visitors may fossick or "spec" for opal on…
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The following outside resources are available for download in PDF format and require Adobe Reader. To download a file, please right-click on the link and select 'Save Target As'. OPAL Mineral Information Leaflet - QLD Govt. Dept. of Mines & Energy - October 2000. Opal…
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If you have seen our online opal catalogue, you will have noticed a number of categories used to describe and classify each stone. This system of offering detailed information about each stone is based on the Australian Opal Ebusiness Association's (AOEA) Opal Classification Standard, and…
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The Geology of Opal FAQ : How is opal formed? / How are opals formed? What is the Great Artesian Basin? What is potch? What causes the formation of opal? A Simple Explanation Opal is formed from a solution of silicon dioxide and water. As…
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How to Cut and Polish Opal FAQ: How is opal cutting done? How do I cut rough opal? Where can I learn about cutting opals? How is opal polishing done? How can I polish an opal? Opal cutting and polishing is a very specialised skill. Rough…
Read More >FAQ: What causes the colours in opal? How does opal get its colour? What is potch? Where do opals get their colours? What is the structure of opals? Why does opal have colour? The colour of an opal is a magnificent thing. Unlike any other…
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FAQ : How can I tell if an opal is real? What is Gilson opal? What are synthetic opals? How can I tell if an opal is synthetic? What is synthetic opal? How can I identify opals? Is my opal real? HOW TO TELL IF…
Read More >It is almost a year since we bought a beautiful opal ring from you. Back in The UK I get a lot of comments on the unusual colour and iridescence. May your business go from strength to strength in the future.
Martina Ward
The stone is incredible – more beautiful than I could have imagined – this is the stone we have been searching for at least 10 years. If you are still in communications with the family of the miner who had this in his private collection please tell them that the stone has found a new home where it will be cherished and loved.
Robert
I just want to let you know that the opal arrived today and it is absolutely gorgeous – thank you!
Lynne
“5 stars all the way. Your service was perfect and you went out of your way to replace my opal in my ring. I will definitely recommend my new zealand friends to visit when they are over, and I will be back in the future. Thank you”
Trish V.D.B
Apologies for taking a few days to come back to you but I can confirm the pendant was received last Monday. Looks great and I am very happy not just with the pendant but also the excellent customer service you have provided.Many thanks once again.
W. Edwards
“Pendant arrived and it is truly as beautiful as you described! It was such a please working with you. You promptly replied and answered all questions. And the end result is magnificent!”
G. Summa
Ring arrived this morning and looks awesome, thank you. My wife to be is going to love it.
H. Matthews
“Thank you so much. We received our necklace today and it is just gorgeous. And appreciate you getting it to us so quickly and in time for our deadline. ” (12/02/21)
T. Gregory
Rhys – just got the ring. It is spectacular. Thanks so much for your work, and for being flexible on the stone! I love it.
G. Dean
Thank you for the ring which, arrived Thursday. The opal is incredibly beautiful and the simple setting lets the stone speak for itself. I have never seen such a pretty ring.
J. Martin
The ring just arrived and it’s BETTER than our highest hopes. Fantastic selection and the setting is great. It doesn’t fit on the finger I expected, but lucky me, it fits on the other hand, so it’s all good!! I love it
J. Torrance
I do have the pendant and it is gorgeous! Thanks so much for the update anyway. We actually went out and priced some chains, as anything I have is much too delicate. The pendant was a birthday gift……….I guess I know what I’m getting for Christmas!
Thanks again Rhys, for all your help. I really do love my “opal from down under” (forgive me)
E. Kline
Got the opals a couple of weeks ago and am totally pleased. Each one is unique, which is perfect as I can use them for different types of jewelry. Really would like to buy one nd have you set it, but it is so hard to picture in my mind what the setting would look like just through sketches. Hope you understand. Thanks
S. Dunlap
“Just wanted to thank you and your staff about the absolute wonderful service, patience and reception when my wife and I visited your store back in Oct 2018. We got such an education on Opals and mining when we came in the first time and returned the next day. Despite our modest purchases, you provided such transparency and knowledge, we absolutely treasure the experience ! Thank you ! Absolutely hope to be back one day to visit again.”
H & S Fritz USA
“Wonderful wear for my lovely wife. Opals are her birthstone. (or one of them). Your service has been recommended to friends.”
Ross B. Bills
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