THIS BLACK OPAL IS ULTRA RARE AND ONE THAT YOU WANT IN YOUR COLLECTION. FIRSTLY THE BASE COLOUR IS BLUE (WHICH IS ALLOWED AND THE OPAL IS STILL A BLACK OPAL). SECONDLY IF A BLACK OPAL HAD A CATS EYE OPAL, THIS WOULD BE IT. THE PLAY OF COLOUR RUNS LENGTH WAYS ALONG THE GEM AND GIVES THE EFFECT OF A CATS EYE GEMSTONE. BUT THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THIS INCREDIBLY RARE COLOUR PLAY. AS THE COLOUR RUNS, IT CHANGES COLOUR. ORANGE CHANGES TO RED. PARAIBA BLUE CHANGES TO GREEN. BLUE CHANGES TO PURPLE. MY GEMOLOGIST SENT ME SOME LITERATURE ON THESE OPALS AND THE TECHNICAL TERM IS "ROLLING COLOUR PLAY"

THE GEM IS TRULY A GEM IN A MILLION. THE PICTURE IS FROM THE SUPPLIER BUT I SEE NO LENGTH WAYS COLOUR PLAY WHICH MAKES ME QUESTION WHETHER THIS IS THE ACTUAL GEM. I DO SEE THE BLUE GEMSTONE THOUGH.

Black opals are the most valuable form of opal - due to their dark body tone and the resulting vibrant play of colour. Top of the range gem quality black opal can fetch prices up to AUD $15,000 per carat. However, just because an opal is black doesn't make it valuable. There are many factors including brightness and pattern which determine the over all value of opal.

 Australia is the classical Opal country and today is the worldwide most important supplier of Fine Opals. Almost 95 per cent of all Opals come from Australian mines.

 Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is the main source of black opal, opal containing a predominantly dark background. Mintabie is another source of the black opal.

360 DEGREES COLOURS.

BIT OF INTERESTING OPAL TRIVIA. DID YOU KNOW, THAT IF AN OPAL IS NOT MANAGING TO FIRE OR FLASH EN CABOCHON, THEY WILL THEN FACET THE GEMSTONE TO GET IT FIRE.

  PICTURE IS ENLARGED 

 Gem type:BLACK OPAL

                      

GIA CLARITY