Become an opal expert
Every opal is unique.
One of a kind.
No two opals are alike; these guides explain what makes each one unique.
Birthstone
Opal, the October birthstone
Opal is October's birthstone. What it means, the colors it comes in, how it compares with tourmaline, and how to choose a solid opal that lasts.
The stones
Black opal, explained
Black opal is the rarest type of opal, and almost all of it comes from Lightning Ridge, Australia. What body tone means, the patterns to know, and why it's so sought after.
Price
What sets the price of black opal
What sets the price of Australian black opal: body tone, brightness, pattern and size, why prices vary so much, and how to spot a black opal priced too low to be solid.
Origin
Lightning Ridge, the home of black opal
Why almost all black opal comes from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, what nobbies and seam opal are, and how to check a Lightning Ridge claim before you buy.
Trust
How to tell if an opal is real: six checks
Six checks to tell solid opal from doublets, triplets, treated stones and lab-created opal, and what a certificate should say to be useful.
Trust
Solid opal vs. doublets and triplets
Doublets and triplets are thin slices of opal glued to a backing. How to spot them, why they exist, how they compare in price, and why solid opal lasts longer.
The stones
Australian vs. Ethiopian opal
Ethiopian opal is beautiful, affordable and absorbs water, which can change how it looks. How it differs from Australian opal, how prices compare, and how to tell them apart.
Price
What opal costs, type by type
How black, boulder, crystal and white Australian opal compare in price, what drives each one, and what to think about when choosing what to spend.
Buying
Is opal too soft for an engagement ring?
A straight answer on how hard opal is, which settings hold up to daily wear, which type of opal to choose, and when opal isn't the right choice.
Care
Caring for opal jewelry
Can opals get wet? Solid Australian opal can. How to clean opal jewelry, why to avoid ultrasonic cleaners, how to store it, and why doublets need more care.
The stones
Natural imperfections in opal, explained
Natural opal often carries potch, sand or ironstone from the ground it formed in. What's normal, what a matrix opal ring is, and when an imperfection is a real problem.
See it in stone