The contrast of play-of-color to bodycolor makes black opals very popular. Additionally, black opals are considered to be the rarest (white opals are more common). An opal with a translucent to opaque white and other light color backgrounds (bodycolor) with play-of-color is called white opal.
Generally opals with a black or dark body tone are more valuable than those with a white, light, or crystal body tone, because a stone with a darker body tone tends to display colours more vibrantly.
Unlike the black opals which are very rare, the white opals are pretty common and for that reason they are of a lesser value than the black opals. High quality white opals can reach prices of around $1,000 per carat. Value of the opal is mostly determined by its pattern and brightness.
Black opal is the most rare and highly valued form of opal, and has what is called a black (or dark) body tone. Black opals come in every colour of the rainbow.
Of all the opal types, Australian black opal is the rarest and the most coveted among precious stone collectors.
Australian opals are incredibly expensive, especially in comparison to opals sourced in other regions of the world. The reason is that Australian opals have a superior quality that is hard to come by in other regions around the globe.
Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world's precious opal and it is our official national gemstone.
There is no single trait that drives Black Opal value — a multitude of factors work hand in hand to collectively determine its market valuation. A Black Opal's price can vary from under $100 per carat - for a very small or relatively low quality stone - to over $10,000 per carat for a truly exquisite piece.
Black opal is the zodiac birthstone for those born under Scorpio.
The variety of types of opal means the cost can vary from about $10 per carat to approximately $6,000 per carat. At $1 million, the 'Virgin Rainbow Opal' is the world's most valuable Australian opal. It was discovered in 2003 by miner John Dunstan in Coober Pedy of Southern Australia.
The most valuable and popular of all Opals is Black Opal. Black Opal accounts for around 5% and is found at Lightning Ridge in Northern NSW. It is called Black Opal because it has a black base caused by black or grey iron oxide impurities in the Opal.
Unlike ordinary opals, black opals have carbon and iron oxide trace elements present, which cause the unusual darkness of the stone. Because of their dark body tone, the rainbow colours in a black opal stand out much better than lighter opals.
Unlike the abundance of white diamonds found throughout the world, black opals are now considered one of the world's rarest gemstones. In comparison to Boulder & White Opals, Black opals command a significantly greater price due to their rarity and status.
The Fire of Australia has been dubbed the “world's finest uncut opal” by some. It weighs 4,990 carats (about the size of a softball) and is valued at over $675,000.
With a long term view, opals can be seen as really great investments. If you look at the last 50 years of black opals, they have steadily increased over time. We have never seen a decrease in value in gem quality black opals.
THE “AURORA AUSTRALIS” The Aurora Australis was discovered at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales in 1938 and is believed to be the world's most valuable Black Opal.
Associated with the planet Venus, opals align with the zodiac signs Libra & Taurus!
Side Effects of Wearing an Opal Stone
People have said that when people with other birthstones wear opal, it will be a reversal of fortunes. Unlike all the positive influence opal has on a Libra, opal on anyone else brings a decline in prosperity, marital discord, strain in relationships, and so on.
Opal Rings
You can wear Opal every-day, it is so versatile!. You can swim in it, shower, do the dishes. Just remember that any gemstone will crack or chip if it comes into contact with a hard surface (even Diamond) so make sure you have a strong setting. This is why bezel settings are great for Opal.
New South Wales (NSW) – The Home of Black Opal
The Lightning Ridge opal mining fields are synonymous with world famous gem quality black opals. Unlike ordinary opals the black opal has carbon and iron oxide trace elements in it, producing the most sought-after opal in the world.
World's Most Valuable Gem
Opal is an extremely precious gem. Gem Black, Boulder, Crystal and White Opals are the world's #1 most valuable commercially available gemstone, yet they are complex with an exponentially large range of valuation characteristics than Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires or Tanzanites.
Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.
Ensuring your opal is genuine
A genuine opal is a solid stone made of silica. Unless your opal is specified as a doublet or triplet, it should not have foreign material glued or fused to the back. A high-quality opal doublet will have a genuine opal face with a man-made backing to add to the weight and substance.
The star of Australia's opal mining history, Lightning Ridge is also famed for its elusive black opal. See these rare gems at the Opal Bin, where raw opals are polished into shimmering gemstones. Tour an opal mine at The Big Opal and try your luck fossicking or visit the world-class underground Australian Opal Centre.