Opal Lexicon

Synthetic opal: how to spot it, and its value

Synthetic opal consists of the same silica spheres as a natural opal, but grows in about a year in the laboratory. How you recognise it for sure under the loupe, what it is worth, how it must be la...

Opalite: Glass, Not Opal. How to Spot It

Opalite is man-made glass with a milky blue shimmer, and it's often sold as opal at flea markets and on online marketplaces. This article shows the features that give it away, clears up the confusi...

Is opal fragile? Hardness, cracks and water

An opal does not shatter at the first knock, but it reacts to two things: quartz dust that scratches it, and sudden dryness that draws cracks. What that means for ring, necklace and daily life is h...

Opal or Moonstone? How to Tell Them Apart

Both shimmer, both feel mysterious, and yet they aren't related. Moonstone shows a single bluish shimmer, opal shows many colors at once. Here's how to tell them apart.

Opal Doublet and Triplet: Structure and Value

An opal doublet and an opal triplet bring genuine play of color to your skin without you paying the price of a solid opal.

How to Tell if an Opal Is Real: 5 Reliable Signs

In most cases you can tell a real opal with the naked eye, a bit of light and a few simple checks. You do not need to be a gemmologist.

Types of Opal at a Glance: Every Opal Compared

There are many types of opal, and hardly any gemstone is as varied as opal. Where each type comes from, how they differ, and which one suits you best, you'll see...

How Much Is an Opal Worth?

What an opal is worth comes down to a few traits: play of color, body tone and authenticity first.