What is an Opal Doublet and how can you tell?
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Welcome to Black Opal Direct!
How can you tell if an opal is natural or a doublet? What's the difference? What's a triplet?!
Justin teaches you how to spot an opal that's been altered!
Some people turn slices of opal into doublets because it can make the gem look like it's worth more than it actually is. The catch here is that reinforcing an opal this way often reduces its value!
So, how do you know what you're paying for? Tune in to find out!
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I have a very pretty pendant with quite a large opal which is bezel set. The craftsman who I bought it from told me it it was a doublet when I bought it. It's beautiful and I love it and I could afford it! I don't think there is anything intrinsically wrong with doublets or triplets as long as people know what they are buying.
I could not agree more
Am so happy your explaining these differences. Am sure your viewers know this, but many new Opal lovers out there don't.
I had no clue.
I was fortunate enough to visit a wonderful store in Coober Pedy a couple years back. The family owned the store and a mine, they cut their own opal and 2 of the kids were also jewellers. The lovely lady actually pulled out a natural, doublet & triplet and explained all this to me. It was so interesting!
The old credit card may or may not have copped a hit that day, I admit to nothing! 🤣
This is the very best opal channel
You just could not have explained it better. Great job !
I ordered a ring online about 10 or 12 year's ago. It turned out to be a triplet, It's so beautiful that I still love it even though I felt a bit cheated ♥
This is a really useful Video, especially considering the fact that on sites like ebay, many sellers list their set jewelry as genuine opal, when it is in fact just a doublet, worth only about 20% of the actual Opal. Thanks for the Video, appreciate it!
Tobias Salla it’s actually 10% 😊
Ebay can be dodgy, but i sell some of my cut stones there. We have 100% positive feedback, so for us to sell an opal that is not EXACTLY as described, would be suicide.
People selling Opals made of triplets get away with it because they tell the buyer YES it's a real opal. People can also sell Turquoise by saying it is real Turquoise just because turquoise can be considered a color and not even a stone. Pearls are another thing people need to know before shelling out money. The world of gems can be very cold and cruel. I wish everyone had the knowledge to appreciate the real thing.
I've given up buying gems on eBay. A cheat can make much bigger profits than an honest jeweler. So cheats and crooks flock to eBay and other websites. Especially from other countries that don't have a tradition of honesty in business. But all countries have crooks. Your best option is to only deal with strictly honorable and proven business people. And to become an expert and/or rely on other experts to evaluate what you propose to buy. I like real gems and I like various kinds of fakes. But it's painful to make sacrifices to buy something that was supposed to be real and find it was a fake. All the pleasure is removed and only the pain remains.
Great stuff Justin. Even coming out the world of "lipstick on a pig" I still like most all of colourful opal. Nice to see how to spot the pretenders. 👍
I am going to save this video and watch it many times so I can educate myself about this. Thank you.
joseph richard good man
Such a valuable video to learn from. Nothing wrong IF you know what you're buying, but dishonest if someone is trying to fool you into paying for what you're not getting.
KUDOS on this video!
I have never even seen a Black Opal in person. But man if I ever do... These lessons on you channel are a true treat to watch. Opal University!
Im a goldsmith, i use to tell my customers, that the difference is as if u want a wooden floor in your living room. You can either choose massive oak, teak or mahogni boards, or you can choose oak/teak/mahogni parquet, witch has a thin wood layer on top, glued on plywood.
I work with a lot of different types of wood and when it comes to flooring then that laminate can be the better option as long as the wood used on top is thick enough to allow for a few sanding over its lifetime. The plywood can be more stable and less finicky than all hardwood flooring in given environments along with the lesser price tag along with it. Now if you were to talk about all hardwood Furniture over plywood then that's a whole different story.
Most of the time when I think of doublets it is because the stone is too thin to dome, but it still has great colour. So the doublets I have made are usually with a quartz dome epoxied over the face of the opal, and usually I have done it to boulder opal.
That would then be called a triplet
That doublet info was just what I wanted, now to inspect my pawnshop purchase.
Very educational, thanks for looking out for us!
Cheers Justin, seriously valuable video. Your opals are amazing. The epic red/blue black opal on your site found near your old man's mining shed is *amazing*!
I recently bought a Mexican fire opal ring (I didn't pay much for it). The opal has so much fire/color-play but I could see that it was black on the bottom. I removed the opal from the ring to get a better look. When I did so, the black bit that was glued to the opal fell/crumbled away! This made me very happy, as I would've tried to remove the black back, if at all possible. Now, the opal is back to its natural state...albeit a lot thinner but still just as gorgeous! I didn't want it in the ring setting anyway...I prefer to have it loose. Thanks for your great video...💗💗💗
That is great information to have. I never paid attention to opals but have recently fallen in love with them and am starting to shop for what kind of opal jewelry I want. This is all thanks to your channel. I am a faithful subscriber.
I bought a triplet, it’s just for a dress ring I’m getting made. I’m not really fussed about it. I’ll be happy that i got to design it how i like it 🙂
Wow !
Thank you for explaining these differences. I would never have known.
I bought my wife a Levian Opal ring for no reason, I’ve just always been fascinated with Opals and wanted her to have as nice a one as I could afford.
About $2500 is what I spent.
It’s definitely a natural Opal, and has certifications with it.
And while there are always people who will definitely try to take advantage of others by doing something unscrupulous like creating doublets and triplets, I can also see where a reputable jeweler MIGHT decide to make a doublet, maybe to preserve a really REALLY thin but rare color bar ?
Personally I really want to invest some time and money into learning how to cut, polish and set opals. I have this dream of making some nice pieces for my wife and 1 really nice piece for myself set in silver and mounted on to a Bic lighter case.
Thanks for the info! I will look very closely at my Black Opals!
The stone at 2:07 has been strengthened and sturdy enough to be used for jewellery or a necklace. Without the back it could not be used. Maybe the black back is not glued on for showing through at this piece maybe?
Just the video I was looking for .... going to try to make some doublets out of some thin pieces I have.
Thanks justin
Thank you for showing this... you told me this about a year ago and saved me from buying a doublet... which I didn’t want
Jac Cruick haha sorry it took so long to make the video but I’m glad I helped at the time
Thank you very much for the information. You always keep me informed. Great job and keep them coming!
Thank you for another great video. Many years ago when I first started making jewellery, I worked with triplet opal. It made a good looking piece at a fraction of the price. In fact I made hubby a matching the pin and cuff links😁. Once I returned from Perth W.A. To UK I could not find a supplier. So never worked with triplet opal again.
Great video mate, I remember when you showed me the triplet in a video and I couldn't tell if it was a doub or trip because that Opal layer was so thin.
I barely know what an opal is but I still find myself watching you videos 👍 just wanted you to know you have a variety of folk stopping by!
Awesome glad to hear and thanks for watching. I hope you subscribed :-)
Thank you! I have learned so much about my favorite gem...
Hello Justin, I bought a tripplet from JTV, The Bali Collection, A Quartz Rainbow color, Very nice hand sterling work, However , I wore my ring while washing dishes, and found the water had set behind the layer, Making it dull to look at and Not anything I would wear again, I may have thought I got a Good deal, But beware, water can get behind the layers and you will not like the results, I learned my lesson, And never will buy either a doublet ot Triplet, Thank you for really explaning this to others, and maybe they will see it is better to pay a little more and get a lifetime pc. Instead of just sitting in the old Jewlery box, Again a great video, We here in USA are ALL PRAYING FOR YOUR COUNTRY , The fires are devistating and we hope the men and women we are sending can help in a real way, Your NOT FORGOTTEN , LOVE from Brenda , Florida, USA
Yes they would have used a cheap glue. Thank you for your lovely prayers
Thanks for this video. It actually teached me a lot in terms of the natural or synthetic opal recognision. Cheers!
Very informative! Thank you, Justin. 💖🌷💍💎
Thanks so much for this video! I recently found your channel and I have been binge-watching episodes. I feel I have already learned so much about this beautiful stone and how you work with them. I had a question regarding the present retail cost differences between all three: natural opal, a doublet, and a triplet. How would you determine and compare their value? Would you be able to speak about this? Thanks again!
The triplet is the one that interests me the most. It seems like the biggest "cheat". The one shown here, looking at it as you would a set stone looks stunning, yet is that way only because of the quartz acting as a color magnifier (or whatever the correct term is). To me it is cheating because for me the "purity" of the value comes from the "purity" of the authenticity of the stone. But for someone how just loves the way the color looks, it might not be a cheat to them, but merely a way to get the color and color play they like to see. Thanks for showing so clearly what they are though. It is interesting the why behind them
yes this is correct and the issue is when it passes hands and then someone sells it as a natural to an unsuspecting person
It all depends on the point of view. If you like opal for the play of colors, and it is the play of light and colors that you value in opal, then doublets and triplets are very handy in terms of price and quality. But if we consider opal as a unique natural phenomenon and a collectible item, then of course everyone is interested in the original stone, not imitation. In any case, so that there is no fraud, the seller must inform the buyer about doublets.
Thanks for the valuable information
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
My pleasure
This video was very appreciated! Thank you for sharing! This answered some questions I have had!
Thanks so much for suggesting this video Justin, exactly what I was looking for!👌🏻
Welcome glad you found it 😊
Interesting.good information
Got a small opal when I was visiting Alice Springs about 25 years ago... I wanted to make it into an earring but it was lost for some time. I found it recentlyy only to discover it was a doublet! Glad I only spent 40 AUD at the time!!!
Wow Justin, I am new to your channel and found this so interesting 😊
Thanks Justin! Honestly it is well worth making doublets out of some OZ Opals with great color play and pattern when they are to thin to be set as a stone. Every piece of beautiful Aussie Opal is priceless and should be saved if possible. Nothing wrong with doublets as long as the consumer knows this. Over the years I have seen some amazing pieces that were very thin and made into doublets. This is my personal opinion of course.
I completely agree if a seller is misleading their customers trying to sell doublets or triplets and an untouched Opal. That is unacceptable and corrupt business practices.
I've always thought this as well, when I first got into opals I poo-pooed doublets and triplets, to be honest I still don't like how triplets look, but doublets have grown on me, such an easy way to save stunning crystal opal, and a cheaper way for someone who cannot afford $1000 per Ct on real black opal
Thank you, this was very insightful
Thank you for the knowledge as always 💖
Great information - ty
Thanks Justin. Just getting caught up on your videos. Is there such thing as a man made opal?
I am glad i found you. Always have been a gold prospector and rock hound as a way to get out and have fun.
Yes their is any types of man made
Ok thanks
Thanks Justin, shared to Let's Cab Opals for Jewelry!
Cheers Justin! Very good info again.
Slowly but surely making me want to move to Australia.
I am thinking of buying some opals for my kids future. For their inheritance. Some thing to show them and teach them to keep beauty and wealth for prosperity
Thank you Justin!
Great explanation, thank you!
Thank you I learnt something new today!
Superb video justin ! 👍👍👍
Great info
Thank you for the examples and explaining the terminology. It is a real shame that people are so money grubbing, and unethical. It ruins the industry and makes already wary, uninformed people even more likely to not buy what might have been a real gem. Now, I know and will be more careful.
That triplet was beautiful
thank you sir, thanks again!
I'd buy a doublet. not a triplet though. Great explanation Justin.
So very cool that information totally rocks,, As always sending peace love and joy away
Probably a lot of effort was required to make such a triplet. It’s interesting how they managed to process and place such a thin layer of opal on the base so that it did not crack or crumble. Or does this opal layer consist of several pieces, like a mosaic?
One slice is all it is
I would think that you could grind off the back of the raw stone, and glue the back of the doublet on first. Then you could work your way down to the top of the color bar from the other side, with the doublet back already in place to support it.
Hello.happy to meet you.
doublets and triplets being sold as natural black opal gems are bad for sure. but i can't help admiring admire the expertise put into them. if they were honest, such a crafted gemstone would be a piece of art in it's own right. it's still natural opal, doctored to look the best it possibly can.
i'd love to see the process!
Thankyou for the lesson
Thank you
I've had the opportunity to cut a Natural Opal Triplet which has some white opal in between the crystal face. It looks like a colorful cloud formation.
It's not from Lightning Ridge, however, I have given it the name "Storm Opal"
Definitely a double faced opal, as the dark "potch" back is actually good dark opal with color as well.
Decisions, decisions....
Cutting- Houston Texas watching
I'd imagine that triplet effect could really make a cheap stone pop. And if you don't have a spare 15 k why not ? Zircons for diamonds and glass for emeralds you'll be the talk of the town. But keep em smallish or everyone will know they match your 25 year old Toyota.
That's a really good triplet...
SO useful!! Thank you!!
I love your videos!
My wife sells DeBeers-I buy opal, preferably Black because nothing compares. Or even comes close. My nieces and God daughters now want Aussie Opal for wedding rings after being exposed-My wife is kinda pissed but totally understands. Good job Justin
I take this not as a Doublets and Triplets are fake opals but more they are a lesser value opal that gets scammed as natural opal. Fake Opal is the synthetic opal, Doublets and Triplets have real opal in them so these types that are properly done and marketed as a Doublet or Triplet have their place and should not be shunned off. Setting an Opal in jewelry can enhance or hurt an opal and vice-versa, so making a doublet (atleast the way I see it) is much like making jewelry as its more the skill of the craftsman making something that is lesser into something more.
Overall if there were 2 almost identical pieces of Jewelry (say a necklace) and the only difference was one had a Triplet and the other had a natural black opal and the seller was being honest about the detail of the set stones and was selling them at the same price but the Triplet looked so much better than the natural black opal set in the jewelry then I would consider buying the one that looked better. I mean I am buying the jewelry as a whole and not just the stone alone.
I agree with you. Its the sellers that sell them as natural solid opals in setting so people can't tell.
good info mate
Thanks. I don't know sh*t about it, but I love it. I even bought some cheap opal and tried to cut it. Of course I ruined it. But now I know why I ruined it. Next time I will find new ways to screw it up. Thanks again.
Hello to you, i have a opal on a 9ct brouch setting the back is open with no black backing it looks like hard stone but color is pale green can see some faint opal color from back.
Have to check my two opals that are set in jewelry
triplets are dope, those Chinese people are geniuses.
How is it even possible to separate such a thin colorlayer to put it into a triplet?
Hi. I've got a question. I've got a ring with a big opal that I've recently had valued as a cabochon black opal doublet. The thing is the jewellery evaluation company also cleaned the ring for me but did it using a ultrasonic cleaner. If I understand correctly your not supposed to clean a opal doublet ring in a ultrasonic cleaner??
The opal now looks damaged. As in it has a slight hairline crack and the top appears to be slightly separated (de-laminated?) from the bottom black opal on two sides (along the long edges of the oval shaped doublet). My question: can the damage be reversed? Can the edges where it looks like the top is de-laminating from the bottom be fixed...as in re-glued or can glue help to re-seal the edges? I don't think it is crazed? I'm not sure. I'm not an expert or jeweller. I hope you can give me some positive advice/news.
Wowee!! 😳
Hello! Good informational video. I have an opal mounted as a stick pin. It was sold as a natural black opal and the back looks to be potch; is mate, black stone. The top is sort of dome shape and that has me concerns as most opals that I have are flatter. The cut of the stone is like a tear drop. There is lots of color play. Depending how I hold the flash light different colors appear from the top and side. When I direct the flash light directly on the stone the bulbs of the flashlight are reflected in the stone back at me. The stone in evening light of a room appears dark but not quite black and I can see some colors still thou not as vibrant as when the sun hits it. The stone is cold when I hold it to my face and can warm up.The top is dome shape...is that normal and as mentioned the shape is a tear drop. I thank you in advance for your guidance.
Does the quartz top of a triplet help to protect the opal? My mother wore her opal ring every day an it is horribly worn.
Pauline Dear yes it will and being quartz it is harder than glass. But people also use glass
I would think the quartz would protect the opal since opals can crack easily, but that's just my opinion.
If I glue a thin layer of opal (to thin to cab) to a quartz cap is that considered a doublet?
Do you have a website i could send a pic of my grandmothers bracelet&ring Opal? Its hard to see the date,may be 1945 are 1947,both are different but beautiful..
A triplet seems like it would be a good stone for a hard-wearing ring at least!
Sure but putting a $5 triplet into a ring design hardly seems worth it.
I thought you can soak them in something to blacken them?
Bushcraft1974 that is Ethiopian opal it’s absorbent but not Australian opal
Black Opal Direct Ah ok 👍🏻 always learning!!
I'm sorry, but that triplet was beautiful
A jeweler told me that all opals had to be doublets because opal was too fragile to be sold on it's own; that I couldn't buy solid opal and that he'd never seen one that wasn't doublet or triplet. That last part I believed.
Hahha thats funny
I am in a Reddit group about opals and I posted something about how I was thinking turning my opal into a ring and a jeweler commented the same, that opal is too fragile to set into a ring, that it would break in less than a year. I have several opal rings and none of them have broken, you just have to be careful but it seems that certaing jewelers prefer to avoid working with opals.
Sir I have bought an opal a few days ago I am really not sure it's real or fake how can I send u the pic or video so you examine for me please
Has anyone ever taken a natural opal and made a doublet with a line that looks crooked and not straight just to pass it off as a natural and not a doublet? Just wondering if people actually go that far?
Yes that has happened most definitely
Quickly dip the triplet in water, look at the three layers.
I know you only work with Australian opal, which doesn't need to be made into a doublet or triplet, but have you come across any other opals that need to be made into either a doublet or triplet? I live in the USA and have heard of an opal called Spencer opal from Idaho that forms in super thin bars, like paper thickness. Would making that type of opal into a doublet lessen the value given the fact that you probably wouldn't be able to get a stone out of it naturally?
Spencer opal needs to be kept in water for the most part. So it maybe ok to be put into triplets as it would be glued together. Not totally sure as I haven’t cut any spencer but know it is volcanic opal
@@blackopaldirect thank you
Hahaha you texted that Beautiful Crystal with a Sharpie. Would it give the same effect with silver or gold was behind the crystal opal?
Haha no
@@blackopaldirect thank you!
Do people make doublets to fool buyers? I was shocked to see that people were selling doublet/triplet jewelry as if it were real opal. I thought, I should just buy polished opal and get it made into a pendant for the price of some of these pieces. Real shame to think that some people are being ripped off.
People selling Opals made of triplets get away with it because they tell the buyer YES it's a real opal. People can also sell Turquoise by saying it is real Turquoise just because turquoise can be considered a color and not even a stone. Pearls are another thing people need to know before shelling out money. The world of gems can be very cold and cruel. I wish everyone had the knowledge to appreciate the real thing.
@@miroslavmarkovic4695 I do know what am talking about. Yes triplets are real opal. Most of the time not quality Opals and in layers to look good and the backing is not Opal. People don't realize those are junk compared to a true whole gem and pay way too much.
@@miroslavmarkovic4695 THIS IS MY OTHER COMMENT 8 MONTHS AGO IF YOU READ ALL THE COMMENTS. BTW I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OTHER " STUPID COMMENTS YOU THING I READ"? Since I didn't read any other comments.
Brenda Straley
8 months ago
Am so happy your explaining these differences. Am sure your viewers know this, but many new Opal lovers out there don't.
Justin, Have you ever cut a Cosmic Opal,?
Follow up: Galaxy Opal have seen one?
What is a cosmic opal or a galaxy? Sound synthetic
How does the quartz get put on ?
With 2 pack clear glue
Nearly got caught last week in one of the FB groups. Guy was selling a 2 ct black opal, badly cut and i thought i'd ask the price, maybe buy it and re-cut it. I asked for pics of the back and side and he refused. Then said AUD 120 and he will pay postage. Great deal huh? Fact he wouldn't show me the pics i asked for and the stupid price just made me decide no way. Plus, he was asking for bank transfer or Western Union. A day later, i got a message from someone local to him telling me it was a doublet. Gotta be careful out there.
doublets can be worth that much
@@blackopaldirect Fair comment, but to me they have no value. New in the industry, but solid opal cut from Lightning Ridge is the road i have taken. Bit like choosing a soccer team...you CAN*T change! Seriously though, so long as sellers declare what they are selling, good luck to them. I'll keep my nose to the wheel and follow that sand. Then, i'll see what i have to work with. Chasing the colour has learned me a few lessons. It's a bit like eating the peas and carrots first so yo can enjoy the meat :D
Qui lindas parabéns ✌👏👍
I love crystal opal. I saw you take out the marker and my heart hurt
Aww I'm sorry you love opal this much.
Black Opal Direct I’ll live 😆
Somehow 🤣