There is no governing body which has sent the prices for opal; they are the result of what the international market is prepared to pay in order to obtain the gem. As with any other commodity, opal is subject to the laws of supply and demand. The supply opal is never guaranteed – the lack of…
Australian Opal is found in sedimentary rocks aged 115-100 million years. The majority of Opal is quite hard and will scratch glass. However, there are a few areas that some fields that produce unstable material with a higher water content, which can crack or craze. It is important to buy your opal from reputable jewellers…
There are five virtues of fine Pearls that define their value; Lustre, Size, Shape, Complexion and Colour. Lustre Lustre is the paramount characteristic of pearl quality that is instantly noticeable. It is not only how light reflects from Pearl’s surface, but also how it seems to glow from within. Like all virtues, the lustre of…
By strange coincidence and only on rare occasions, fossil bones from the Early Cretaceous period (115-100 million years) have been found which have been replaced opal. In exceptional circumstances the opal can exhibit a brilliant play of colour. Opalised remains from the “Age of the dinosaurs” have been important for understanding past environments and the…