Category: Opal Classification

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Nucleus of an opal like the beginning of time: Asteria Pattern

Sometimes we see the world in things that you never would expect. This opal has a nucleus at the bottom of the piece that expands outwards like the beginning of time (the Big Bang theory). Like asteroids screaming away from the explosion. The images of what this opal says to the individual will be so vastly different from comments like. “It looks like the birth of Jesus” or “It’s a sunrise” or, “I see the Northern lights”. Some have even said it looks like the Eye Of Sauron. But for the opal professional we call this Asteria pattern. Asteria is a rare pattern in opal that can have the appearance…

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Types of Opal: video and pictures

  How do you tell the different types of opal? In this video Justin will take you through the four main Australian opal types  – as well as a newly discovered one not yet gone mainstream. Understanding opal starts with understanding the basic types of opal found. Black Opal Black opal is the most valuable type of opal and it is predominantly found in Lightning Ridge. It is called black opal due to the dark body tone of the gem. This dark body tone appears because the natural backing or tint of the stone is dark grey or black common potch (opal without colour). With the potch on the underside the light…

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Opal Pattern Types Revealed on Video

If you only watch one video on opal pattern types make it this one – our best yet. It’s all well and good to see an image of a pattern but, in order to really understand how it works, you must be able to see it move and emerge though a stone. In this video each opal is shown in close-up revealing its pattern and color secrets. The following opal pattern types are covered: Rolling Flash Mackerel Sky Boulder Matrix Moss Harlequin Broadflash Cloverleaf Feather Asteria Flagstone Sheen Chinese Writing Pinfire Chaff Floral Broadflash/Chaff Flash of Fire Watch this video and never again will you be wondering – what opal pattern type…

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