Understanding The Opal Gem Family:Opal Varieties and what you didn't know(what you are missing?)2019

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  • Опубликовано: 3 июл 2024
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    Opal is a rare and desirable Gemstone, but more often confused than most realize. Opal has several different types and varieties. Some look familiar while others may be hard to identify as Opal to the average person. We are looking in more detail about what is an Opal.
    We will see in this video:
    -Opal Basics
    What is it?
    What are it's uses?
    Where is it found?
    -the varieties of Opal
    White Opal
    Black Opal
    Jelly Opal
    Fire Opal
    Boulder Opal
    -the synthetic and imitations for Opal
    Lab created
    composite
    -What makes an Opal Phenomenal?
    Remember to subscribe to Your Average Jeweler to keep learning!
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Комментарии • 117

  • @belindamc471
    @belindamc471 Год назад +2

    I knew about white, black, and fire, but those boulder opals are just fantastic!

  • @oppositeofh8
    @oppositeofh8 3 года назад +9

    boulder opals are my favorite! THANK YOU for explaining the structure of opals -- so cool!

  • @carolshannon6522
    @carolshannon6522 3 года назад +3

    My mom had a treasured white opal pendant and ring set. That's what I think of first when I think of opal. Great video.

  • @Austin1990
    @Austin1990 3 года назад +6

    Opals are probably my favorite gemstone. I have always wondered how they were defined since there are so many varieties. Unfortunately, I have never thought of buying an opal because they are so soft and volatile compared to diamond or sapphire.
    This video was very helpful. Thank you.

  • @lisasparkman2924
    @lisasparkman2924 3 года назад +7

    Until recently I associate the white opal as what an opal is. Over the last couple years I have taken up rockhounding and watch rockhounding videos here on RUclips. That exposed me to several of the types of opals. I live in Oregon and different types of opal can be found here. I will say that my current favorite are the boulder opals.

  • @dinamonaghan7524
    @dinamonaghan7524 Год назад +1

    Your videos are chock full of information. When I have a question about stones now, I come straight to you.

  • @mrmatt24
    @mrmatt24 3 года назад +3

    I'd only ever heard of white opal before. Very cool to learn about black opal. It's gorgeous!

  • @brendajackson294
    @brendajackson294 Год назад +1

    I really appreciate the images you show to help us know what the gems look like.

  • @nabbyash
    @nabbyash 3 года назад +9

    This was such an awesome video!! Thank you for being so thorough with explaining each Opal. Jelly opals are my favorite 🤩

    • @YourAverageJeweler
      @YourAverageJeweler  3 года назад +3

      Glad you liked it!!

    • @seditt5146
      @seditt5146 2 года назад

      @@YourAverageJeweler Read my recent comment on your video, your reasons described for why Opal creates its colors is incorrect.

  • @donnaglenrossi7458
    @donnaglenrossi7458 3 месяца назад

    International Women's Day here in Brazil is a time for receiving an extra gift. I now have an opal pendant. If I hadn't watched this video I would have imagined all opals to look like the one I received. I loved learning about the differences.Thank you!

  • @cherylshiflett4384
    @cherylshiflett4384 Год назад

    I always thought white opal was the only one. I now own jelly opal thanks to your tutorial. Thank you.

  • @andrewcumming4018
    @andrewcumming4018 3 года назад +9

    There is nothing so beautiful as a really good Black Opal, but I'm biased being Australian.

  • @mtbkmaniac1
    @mtbkmaniac1 9 месяцев назад +1

    Boulder opal makes gread beads for bracelets and necklaces. I made a tie bar with a nice cabochon

  • @abbysparksjewelry
    @abbysparksjewelry 4 года назад +4

    Great explanation! Love your mission and what you're doing with your channel.

    • @YourAverageJeweler
      @YourAverageJeweler  4 года назад +1

      Appreciate the feed back! Also, I look forward to seeing what you are doing on your channel going forward.

  • @sumitkapoor8771
    @sumitkapoor8771 3 года назад +1

    You are very good at what you do. Keep up your great work and thank you very much for sharing your knowledge in a very easy to understand jargon free (technical) language.

  • @tasewbelew304
    @tasewbelew304 10 месяцев назад

    This is very interesting and educational to know about how the opals structured and the colors are formed. Thanks

  • @deannabates1575
    @deannabates1575 3 года назад +3

    Some of the Boulder opal examples looked like abalone shell to me. I have some white opal ear rings that I just love. I always get amused when people whose birthday is in October tell me that if it is not your birthstone then wearing it is bad luck. They’re just jealous of my ear rings!

  • @chantelmcskimming6633
    @chantelmcskimming6633 3 года назад

    Love the info at the end!!!

  • @robinwhitsell1995
    @robinwhitsell1995 11 месяцев назад

    Really informative content! Thank you!😊

  • @RosatheSilvermuse
    @RosatheSilvermuse Год назад

    White opal was all I ever knew until 10 years ago. I love them especially the fiery ones. Now I too love black opal 🖤 🖤 🖤

  • @sandyoregon
    @sandyoregon 2 года назад +1

    Thank you! Great video! My boyfriends parents own a rock shop and they do alot of rock shows through out the year, since him and I have been together I have been starting to help them out at shows, we also frequently go rockhounding. Ofcourse opal caught my eye and I have invested in some pieces. I want to learn about them as much as I can! This was super helpful! Thank you! I also before meeting my bf and his family always associated white opal to opal! 💜

  • @Alkhayyaal
    @Alkhayyaal Год назад

    Thank you. Very informative, from the beginning

  • @EnergyTRE
    @EnergyTRE Год назад

    agreed. ive seen all the ones you showed. we had a mineral exhibit 20 years ago. thanks for sharing

  • @chantelmcskimming6633
    @chantelmcskimming6633 3 года назад

    White opal is classic, I think. I had heard of black and fire but your information really clarified it. 🙂

  • @CadenceTheSloth
    @CadenceTheSloth 3 года назад +1

    I've always loved opal, and obviously knew why they're so unique, but I still learned quite a bit!
    I think it's sorry interesting that most people have an automatic idea of what opal is

  • @boiguiletoumany7638
    @boiguiletoumany7638 Год назад

    Thank you so much my friend

  • @karentappert3606
    @karentappert3606 3 года назад +3

    Fascinating! Would love to hear your take on labradorite, thanks!

    • @YourAverageJeweler
      @YourAverageJeweler  3 года назад +1

      Great suggestion! It is on my radar.

    • @deannabates1575
      @deannabates1575 3 года назад +1

      Yes! Labradorite, Moonstone (my fave) and Sunstone. Heck, all of the feldspars. They call to me like nothing else.

  • @margui6224
    @margui6224 Год назад

    Thank you Andrew.

  • @sherylarnold2083
    @sherylarnold2083 Год назад

    Love watching the films and the education I’m getting from watching them . I was looking at some of your films and was hoping to fine something on sapphires and star sapphires.

  • @cynfrombrooklyn
    @cynfrombrooklyn 2 года назад

    I love opal so much it’s so stunning

  • @AmandaPerez11
    @AmandaPerez11 3 года назад +2

    I love my boulder opal ring it is so light refective sometimes neon blue sometimes green sometimes goldie green cast and is mostly mostly turqoise it almost looks florescent

    • @AmandaPerez11
      @AmandaPerez11 3 года назад +1

      oh but i did scratch it unfortunately

  • @LarsYJensen
    @LarsYJensen 2 года назад

    Awesome video. I like ofcourse black opals but altso crystal opals from Ligthing Ridge.

  • @roxannetellini3134
    @roxannetellini3134 Год назад

    I bought a batch of stones for tumbling that included a stone marketed as "green opal", which is supposedly a type of common opal. I was hoping to learn more about it. My actually take-away from the video is Wow, boulder opal is pretty! Thank you for adding to my wish list.

  • @ElaiisTaiE
    @ElaiisTaiE Месяц назад

    I have a raw white opal I picked up during a hike in Alaska. It doesn’t look like much but there’s translucent stone under a thin surface layer of opaque white. Might be worth getting it cut one day.

  • @debbiejames5125
    @debbiejames5125 3 года назад +2

    Love fire opal particularly from Mexico.

  • @maydelosh
    @maydelosh 3 года назад +1

    I enjoyed your show. You are very knowledgeable.
    Before I watched it, I thought opals have only one color, egg white color, because opal’s Chinese names is “egg white stone”.

  • @KeriRojas
    @KeriRojas 2 года назад

    Since Opal is my birthstone I probably own an example of each kind you talked about with the exception of fire opal. I have some synthetic opal I have some doublets.I don't know if I have one that's just three layer opal but I have white ones and I have black ones and I have Ethiopian opals. I thought that all opals were white until I traveled to Australia. I saw the most amazing opals in Australia, and decided that it was like Iowa beef: They keep the good stuff in Iowa and export the bad. But now I'm going to have to go find some fire opal. Thank you.

  • @baxoutthebox5682
    @baxoutthebox5682 3 года назад

    Thank you

  • @madmonkee6757
    @madmonkee6757 3 года назад +1

    And here I thought I was supposed to store my opals in water to keep them from fading. (But I only have one opal, so I'm not worried about it.)

  • @drfill9210
    @drfill9210 2 года назад

    I carve opals as a hobby. I've noticed that a lot of my friends have bought white opals for engagement rings etc. I think the soft white colours lend the gems to this. That said black opals are my favourite.

  • @timmccaffery4826
    @timmccaffery4826 2 года назад

    Always thought of opal as white opal. As a geologist, did not know about these five types of opal!

  • @lesliehilesgardener6959
    @lesliehilesgardener6959 Год назад

    Choose the gem you love...their all unique and Lovely

  • @Halopa60
    @Halopa60 Год назад

    In my minds eye I was aware of both White and Black opal though I was ignorant of their names but the Boulder opal I was totally unaware of.

  • @V27RV
    @V27RV 3 года назад +1

    I wish rainbow lattice sunstone was related to opal

  • @h.l.asolomonov7674
    @h.l.asolomonov7674 3 года назад

    Honestly i never thought of opals!

  • @John081590
    @John081590 3 года назад +1

    I am familiar with these opals you mentioned. I own Ethiopian Opals. They have a very bright play of color and is cheap compared to an Australian Opal with the same level of play of color. That being said, I take care when I wear it as it is more delicate.
    Black Opals with top quality of brightness and color are very very expensive. Besides doublets and triplets, some white opals are smoked, or treated to blacken them. Smoked opals are also a good option for those who wants Black Opals at a fraction of the price. Most opals that are smoked are Ethiopian ones (I own one). But Australian matrix opals can be smoked too. In my personal opinion, smoked matrix opals from the Andamooka mines in Australia closely mimics the look of the black opals from Lightning Ridge.

  • @Kerrsartisticgifts
    @Kerrsartisticgifts Год назад

    Have you seen treated matrix opal stones? Some of them look like concrete but some look like jewels once they've been treated.

  • @kathleenrosenberg2245
    @kathleenrosenberg2245 2 года назад

    What were the beautiful stones marketed in ‘70s as opals? Blue-green with fire. where the hey a source gone now, or a composite?

  • @michellego8214
    @michellego8214 Год назад

    I have white and black opal. Black opal is expensive per carat especially if it has beautiful colors shining when light strikes

  • @Al7anon266MV
    @Al7anon266MV 3 года назад +3

    man really I want to say thank you so so so so much you doing very great job with explaining really you're 1# with explaining gemstones and I'll support you as much as I can sadly nobody know you as expert person even I was trying to find videos in youtube or information in google really nobody can explain anything I can't understand any single word but after I came here I'm new here I see you're really insane thanks a lot man maybe you know website or youtuber maybe person in instagram that where we can find more information and trusted person with right information ? that's will help a lot and I hope you upload more videos gemstones is very big world and need explaning and I hope you can do more videos

  • @seditt5146
    @seditt5146 2 года назад +2

    @Your Average Jeweler Your description of the reason is sadly completely wrong :( . The angle is not what creates the color, the color creates the angle. This is extremely important when discussing the reasons for why opal creates its color. The color of each sphere is determined via its size as they are on the order of the wavelength of light so we get photonic interactions as some spheres interact with specific frequencies while others are too small to do so. This is one of the reasons why Reds are relatively hard to find as the Opal spheres would need to be rather long else the larger longer wavelengths of Red light will simply "Go Around" the sphere while shorter Blues are diffracted by them. With Opal flashes what you are seeing with each color is clusters of specific sized spheres arranged in a semi ordered pattern such that the interact with a very specific frequency of light while allowing other frequencies to pass by. To learn more about such effect research Meta-materials and Photonics because as we get better at nano-scale constructions we are able to create objects which do this exact effect Its kinda like the diffraction of a CD grating but round and specific for one frequency which is determined by size of the sphere.

  • @amber.cartomancer
    @amber.cartomancer 3 года назад

    White opals with lots of fire. But looking at the jelly opals ooooooo :)

  • @MagicalWingLT
    @MagicalWingLT 3 года назад +1

    What is the blue/green opal? Is it lab created or under one of the other opal colors?

  • @mongkolphone7946
    @mongkolphone7946 2 года назад

    Good.

  • @christopherrobertson7723
    @christopherrobertson7723 3 года назад +1

    I am happy to have learned that an opal is an aggregate of spheres. What is “opalescence”?

    • @YourAverageJeweler
      @YourAverageJeweler  3 года назад +1

      It is when something that is not opal has an opal layer that creates the same effect. Ammolite is a good example.

  • @attygarland6909
    @attygarland6909 3 года назад +2

    Oh great .. I just ordered a $$$ Ethiopian fire opal from India and the seller didn't tell me anything about keeping it from getting wet, etc. So does that mean every time I go to wash my hands or even just rinse them I have to take the ring off? Also, I've now seen videos that mention the "water soak" test to determine whether they are genuine Welo opals, and they say in those videos to not worry, that after a few hours of being "transparent" w/o colors the colors (and white) will return as before. True or false?

    • @kellydrodgers8957
      @kellydrodgers8957 2 года назад

      This is true, the colors will return over time. But 'Welo' opal as it's commonly called is hydrophane, meaning when it's placed in water it absorbs it, as you've said.
      Well opal does have a habit of forming cracks while drying out if it dries out too quickly.
      To offset the possibility of it forming cracks, if it 'goes colorless' on you, wrap it in a damp washcloth place it in a plastic container with lid on but loose and keep it in a humid area so it dries out slower. Nitpicky, I know, but it'll lower the chances of it cracking on you if you get it wet.
      Otherwise if you get it wet but the color didn't fade, wipe the water off it, and it should be fine.

  • @oriettabuezo8688
    @oriettabuezo8688 2 года назад

    Hi, fantastic . Thank you so much , was wondering if you can do Amythest , it's from Bolivia my home country, it was almost considered precious stone like Dimond but it just missed out? Is this true?

  • @kellytheopalqueen
    @kellytheopalqueen 2 года назад

    You can have a black CRYSTAL Opal~ Lightning Ridge is a mining reserve and not just one claim…just to clarify! As Small scale miners we do find lots of black crystal…nice job 😄

  • @zinovyrozhestvensky3636
    @zinovyrozhestvensky3636 Год назад

    Some Black opal is also found in some American petrified woods

  • @JuliaTsang
    @JuliaTsang Год назад

    What do you call those look like jelly yellow (like fire opal) but contains play of colour?

  • @dominicdelprincipe2583
    @dominicdelprincipe2583 2 года назад +1

    Ethi-opals? Awesome

  • @Karina-Loves-Andreas
    @Karina-Loves-Andreas 3 года назад +2

    I have some lovely Ethopian opals I would like to have set into jewelry/pendants. They are many years old, so I think they're pretty "stable". I guess they can only be set in gold, because you don't want to have to clean the metal (need a metal that doesn't oxidize much)? Or do you have any other suggestions? Thanks!

    • @YourAverageJeweler
      @YourAverageJeweler  3 года назад +2

      I personally feel that any expensive and/or important opal is better in a setting you won't have to clean as often, but some don't mind the look of tarnished sterling. Gold/white gold is always a good ring option in my opinion.

    • @ovh992
      @ovh992 2 года назад

      @@YourAverageJeweler white gold is a bad idea for a ring. White gold is yellow gold plated in platinum. In a ring, the white would rub off very fast. If you want a fine metal ring in a white/silver color, choose platinum. (This is why you see a lot of platinum wedding rings vs. White gold wedding rings.)

  • @charmspeakjewelrydesignstu7224
    @charmspeakjewelrydesignstu7224 3 года назад +5

    What do you know about Peruvian opal or “opalized” stones?

    • @shirleypena4133
      @shirleypena4133 3 года назад +1

      +Tina Reiser It's basically petrified wood which is quite dark in color but is heat treated to bring out a rainbow of colors.

    • @jaysonbarlis9344
      @jaysonbarlis9344 2 года назад

      Sir goodafternoon can i ask what kind of stone is this

  • @sherrylawrence7481
    @sherrylawrence7481 Год назад

    I bought what looked like a black opal from and on line jewelry store and it was expensive. Now I am so disappointed because half of the stone broke and fell off. It must have been an assembled opal like you said which they did not explain.

  • @sandrahertel6282
    @sandrahertel6282 Год назад

    I had an unset Opal that just cracked. Opals need special care.

  • @rmg03c
    @rmg03c 5 месяцев назад

    I cut Australian opal as a hobby. Black, white and boulder. I mess around some with the Ethiopian hydrophane Welo opals. I cut mostly little stones because who can afford larger ones???

  • @madmonkee6757
    @madmonkee6757 3 года назад +1

    I love a man that corrects his errors. That's very sexy!

  • @ivyandroses25
    @ivyandroses25 Год назад

    What about Matrix opal?

  • @lucytimmerman8687
    @lucytimmerman8687 2 года назад

    I love opal, it's my favorite stone. I bought a 2oz mixed parcel of Australian opal from a dealer years ago. I still haven't cut it all. I've tried Ethiopian opal, it's too unstable, hard pass.

  • @saeedmohammed5436
    @saeedmohammed5436 Год назад

    To my good luck I came across this video. I had three opal stones, I sent one for cut and received 119 lobes, I want to know how to preserve them. Can I send you photos?

  • @leslietheresafodor7002
    @leslietheresafodor7002 3 года назад

    Opals are my birthstones. I love black opals.

  • @V27RV
    @V27RV 3 года назад +1

    Indonesian Opal are beautiful too ,sadly underrated

  • @kendrausack1985
    @kendrausack1985 Год назад

    I identify white and black and white opals. My parents actually managed to buy a real white opal from Australia set in a ring. They have purchased more fakes than real pieces so I learn what I can.

  • @lamrinsteudebaker6829
    @lamrinsteudebaker6829 3 года назад +1

    I usually identify the white opal

  • @margui6224
    @margui6224 Год назад

    White opal and Andean opal (like pink or blue)

  • @lesliehilesgardener6959
    @lesliehilesgardener6959 Год назад

    At gem shows meny tactics for sale prices are getting ot of control as all things today

  • @jimgordon4685
    @jimgordon4685 3 года назад +1

    You missed fern opal of which I have one.

    • @shirleypena4133
      @shirleypena4133 3 года назад

      +Jim Gordon Fern opal falls into the category of jelly opals.

  • @abelalemu5713
    @abelalemu5713 Год назад

    i have black opal lots of it

  • @nirupmalohtia2493
    @nirupmalohtia2493 3 года назад

    Hello I recently bought a 30 carat black opal. Would like to know if it's real. Thx

    • @majortom1164
      @majortom1164 3 года назад

      Take it to a jeweler for appraisal. The price of black opal varies, a darker more colourful opal is obviously worth more. A good quality black opal will cost tens of thousands US dollars, so if you payed only a few hundred, it will be a fake

  • @2HighNoon
    @2HighNoon Год назад

    Fun fact: The only other place in the world to find black opal is Northern Nevada.. 😊✌️

  • @lastanonymousperson
    @lastanonymousperson 2 года назад

    You forgot about tree opal.

  • @RosatheSilvermuse
    @RosatheSilvermuse Год назад

    Being an older American, I identify more with white opal.

  • @SmootholdGuy
    @SmootholdGuy 3 года назад

    Oregon Opal?

    • @lisasparkman2924
      @lisasparkman2924 3 года назад

      Yes Oregon does have opal. There's quite a bit of common opal around and we have open mines

  • @lesliehilesgardener6959
    @lesliehilesgardener6959 Год назад

    The rainbow gods peace with Mankind All for our Joy

  • @ovh992
    @ovh992 2 года назад

    Fire Opals used to be called Mexican Fire Opals.

  • @KrosanBeast315
    @KrosanBeast315 Год назад

    Opal has NO Variety Calls according to the G.I.A. As a Graduate Gemologist, I read the G.I.A. Gem Identification Lab Manual cover to cover once a year. If he had this book and read it, he would have known better. So I say to the author of this video: study harder, Padawan.

  • @aung3627
    @aung3627 Год назад

    သင်၏လှပသောရတနာများမျဝေပေးလိုက်သည်

  • @lesliehilesgardener6959
    @lesliehilesgardener6959 Год назад

    The rainbow gods peace with Mankind

  • @lindanorris2455
    @lindanorris2455 3 года назад +1

    I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO A VIDEO ON JEWELRY DAMAGE AND PARFUM, HAIR SPRAY, AFTERSHAVE, ETC. I INHERITED A STRAND OF PEARLS THE WOMAN WORE THAN OFTEN BUT, SHE ALSO SPRAYED THEM WITH PARFUM, CONSTANLTY . RUINED THE STRING! AND MANY OF THE PEARLS HAVE THE NACRE DESTROYED FROM THE PERFUEM!

  • @KrosanBeast315
    @KrosanBeast315 Год назад

    According to the G.I.A. Gem Identification Lab Manual, there are NO VARIETIES of Opal. A rookie mistake

  • @iraimbert2164
    @iraimbert2164 Год назад

    8i

  • @beckypotz6656
    @beckypotz6656 3 года назад +1

    Ethiopian Opal

  • @matthewbernard4152
    @matthewbernard4152 3 года назад

    Hyalite Opal!!!!!

  • @saeedmohammed5436
    @saeedmohammed5436 Год назад

    Excuse me the Opals I have are Ethiopian

  • @regaljohnston3001
    @regaljohnston3001 2 года назад

    i can't subscribe sorry