Australian Opal

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What is the Best Opal in the World?

"Potch" is what we call worthless opal. It is actually opal but is has dull and lifeless grey black , white or unappealing ranges of color. These days people tend to think that opal is found in Australia. Well it certainly is and there are two predominant types: black opal and white opal. Black opal comes from the Lightning Ridge region in the state of NSW and white opal comes from the Coober Pedy region in the state of South Australia. Australian black opal is recognized as being the best quality gemstone opal in the world. You really need to think about that for a while. Obviously there is beautiful opal found in not just Coober Pedy but in different parts of the world. Opal is found in all corners of the earth and has been known for many hundreds of years before it was found in Australia. Louis Leakey, an anthropologist in Kenya, found opal which had been worked by early artisans as long ago as 6,000 years. Today there are still deposits of opal found in Hungary, Germany, ...

How To Find Authentic, But Inexpensive Opal Jewelry

Opal jewelry or jewellery as the British spell it, such as rings, pendants, necklaces make ideal fashion accessories for any occasion. Opals are found around the inland areas of Australia. Opals are a part of the cultural history of these regions. Many of the old opal mines are not producing anymore. Fields such as White Cliffs and Andamooka still have some coming out of the ground but not extensive. In recent times Lightning Ridge has also not produced like it used to. We are all waiting for a new field to be found. Gold is the most common medium used to set opals in most parts of the world. There is a lot of experimentation with different metals and opals set in silver with rhodium coating (to prevent tarnishing) are gaining popularity by the day. The high price of gold is stimulating this trend because silver is much more economical. Please note that the spelling of the word 'jewelry' varies between the USA and the UK, where it is spelt 'jewellery.' There is a lot o...

Australian Opal Ring - Learn How to Select a Quality Gemstone

Australian Opals have a attraction that most love and admire. These exquisite opals are found in the Australian Outback which is quite rough and has extreme weather conditions. These conditions have guarded Australia's sublime opals and have nurtured them to become even more beautiful as if they were created and made with an unimaginable power. Australia is number one source for opals and other opal jewelries because of their abundance in the Australian Outback. There are actually opals that are commonly found in dry areas . However, these opals do not have the fire and the beauty precious Australian opals possess which is why they are sold at a much lower price or they are made into doublets and triplets. Precious opals are found in dry areas where there is limited or no water supply. These conditions actually make it harder to find the opals and it will also make the opals found more expensive than other common opals. Many people are interested in opal jewelry. Australian opal r...

The Unique and Vibrant World of Opals

If boring and milky-white is what comes to mind when you think of an opal, think again. Sure there are some stones that are more sedate and subtle in their fire, but there are also some that will set you on fire with their brilliance. Opal Bracelet are a truly unique gemstone. Really! No two are alike in pattern and color. You can confidently say that no one else has an opal pendant like the one you have. History and Legend This gemstone got its name because of its iridescent-looking qualities. Opal is derived from the Greek word "Opallus" and the Latin word "Opalus." Respectively, these words mean to see color changes and precious stone. As with many gemstones, folklore attaches mystical-like powers to the opal. Ancient Greeks believed it gave a person the ability to see and predict the future. Others believed the opal helped ward off the ills of aging. If it does help, why not slip on an opal ring or an opal bracelet? It certainly couldn't hurt! Origin and C...

On Trend Necklaces for Spring

If you are looking for the trendy Fire Opal Necklace for the spring, a good place to start your search is with the different jewelry collections. You will discover what's new with the individual designers and you will discover some common themes - aka trends. Gems en Vogue II It's no surprise that gems are at the heart of this collection - beautiful pastels blended into one gorgeous dragonfly necklace and bright colors standing on their own. The multi-gemstone Dragonfly & Cultured Spice Pearl necklace is a mixture of gems and cultured pearls strung on a pearlescent lilac strand. The wings of the dragonfly pendant combine apatite stones, dark pink sapphires, rubies, iolites, tanzanites, amethysts and pink quartz. All gemstones are in claw and bead settings. The pendant is just under 2 inches long and just over 2 inches wide. The chain is strung with dyed multi-colored freshwater cultured pearls and measures 23 inches long. It secures with a lobster clasp. For a bit ...

Exclusive Gold Jewellery Designs and Types

Jewellery making is believed to have started thousands of years ago in India. Hence, India has an exclusive collection of jewellery designs and styles. You can tell by the look of the design as to which category it belongs to. Every design is unique in its own way. Since this land was brimming with various precious metals and gems, they were put to effective use in the form of ornaments, decorating each part of the body. This was the main reason why foreigners came to India. Earlier kings and queens wore jewels to flaunt their wealth, prestige and power, but later on it became a symbol of financial security and investment. Jewels have never lost their aesthetic appeal and value all along these years that they are considered as an artful expression comprising workmanship and design. Indian jewellery is designed from various raw materials including silver, gold, precious stones like diamonds, rubies, emeralds and semi-precious stones like turquoise, opal and so on. In India, you fin...

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