What are opals?

Opals are stones with small crystalline balls that appear to sparkle when light is lough. Precious opals are known for their “color game”. While 95% of the world's opals do not show this game, many prices of valuable varieties.

Opals show an impressive color range. They can be milky white, pink, light green and blue, gray or black. All rare opals are multicolored and the greater the variety of colors, the greater the value of the stone.

Opals quality is evaluated by several different means. Since there are no clear gems, it depends less in clarity than other stones. The main point of view is body tone , the main color of the opal background. Darker tones of the body bring higher prices than tones of light or white body.

Opal's Brilliance is classified as tupl , muted , bright or brilliant . The greater the degree, the colors are clearly movednyayed, the better the quality. They will also be assessed formula colors in the opal. The highest patterns of the highest quality are those in which different colors are represented in the same proportions called Harlequin . Any errors , such as cracks, inconsistent coloring or breaking in a pattern, can reduce the value of the opal. The crack can render the gem worthless, while disruption of patterns can only reduce the price.

prices for opals depend on the overall quality. Commercial stones can be less than $ 100 (USD). The highest valuable gems, black with red, in the highest rating of the highest quality can be extremely expensive. One carat can cost up to $ 8,000.

Opals were valued at least 6,000 years ago. Louis Leakey found artifacts in Kenya, which dated back to 4000 B.C.E. Opals are appreciated by many cultures and could be in the new world and in the old. Early deposits were probably mined in egoYPTU, but today's opals are obtained primarily from Australia.

The ancient Greeks developed a beautiful theory of opals development. It was said that during the flashes lightening fell from heaven. Therefore, it is a by -product of Zeus. Opals were associated with the ability to prophesy events, or at least give the wearer a little predictable.

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Romans believed that the wearing of these gems helped to clarify emotional states, and it was forced that the wearers became more spontaneous. Like the Greeks, the Romans also attributed the opal to the clarity of thought and predict. European nations in the Middle Ages somewhat watered, but felt that gems have healing properties to protect their eyes.

negative connotations with opals began in the 18th century, when they were considered bad luck. Queen Victoria, however, worked hard to defeat this theory of "bad luck" when Australia was found a huge museum of opals. Today some still feel that it is bad luck to buy opal for yourself but good luck if someone yinHe will.