Black opal, explained
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What makes an opal black
Black opal isn't black all the way through. The name comes from its body tone: the dark background behind the colors. That dark background makes the colors look brighter, which is why black opal is the most sought-after type of opal. Almost all of it comes from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales (more in the Lightning Ridge guide).
Body tone is graded from N1 (darkest) to N9 (lightest). N1 to N4 counts as black opal, and N5 and N6 as dark opal.
Pattern and color
After body tone and brightness, pattern makes the biggest difference. Harlequin, made of distinct, angular patches of color, is the rarest and most prized. Broad flash, where large areas of color sweep across the stone as it moves, is also highly valued. Other patterns include rolling flash, floral, ribbon and pinfire, which is lots of tiny points of color.
Color matters too. Red is the rarest, and red on a black body is one of the most valuable combinations there is.
One more word worth knowing: potch. Potch is opal with no play-of-color. Black potch is common at Lightning Ridge, and it's also often used as the backing on doublets.
Why the price varies so much
Black opal prices vary widely depending on body tone, brightness, pattern and size. A very cheap "black opal" is usually a doublet, a triplet, a treated stone or lab-created opal. Those are fine when they're sold as what they are. What sets the price of black opal explains more.
Two questions are worth asking any seller: is it solid, and where was it mined?
From Opalani
We sell solid black opal from Lightning Ridge. Each piece is one of a kind, with its construction and origin stated on a signed certificate.