What is a boulder opal versus a regualar opal?
I have been looking at opals to buy, and I keep running into boulder opals, but they seem cheaper. Are they still good quality opals?
There are a number of types of opal available in the shops.
1) Solid opals - these can be black, semi black, white, jelly opal and fire opal (a bright orange colour). Black opal is the most desirable (and most costly) These stones are, as their name points out, cut from material that is all opal.
2) Doublets and triplets. These consist of very thin slices of precious opal cemented onto a black glass or onyx base. In the case of triplets a dome of clear quartz is cemented to the slice of opal to protect it and also act like a magnifying glass and make the flashes of colour seem bigger and brighter. They can be very attractive but to me they always look "over the top"
3) The last type are called boulder opals or matrix opals. These are cut from the mother rock (usually ironstone) which has veins of precious opal running through it. The patterns of opal and matrix can be very attractive
When buying precious stones think of how beautiful the stone looks to you, after all it is you who will be wearing it. If you are totally involved with the price a fine black opal may easily cost you $10,000 per carat or more whereas a really pretty boulder opal could cost as little as $10 per carat.
|
|
OASIS - OPAL Boulder Collector Treasure 1.05 Kilogram $25,000.00 |
|
|
HUGE 14K GOLD CURB LINK CHAIN EGG BOULDER OPAL PENDANT DIAMOND NECKLACE BASKET $19,495.00 |
|
|
18k Gold Necklace Italy Big Chain Boulder Opal Pendant Handmade Links Chain $17,400.00 |
|
|
NEW GURHAN QUILPIE 24K GOLD 175ct BOULDER OPAL NECKLACE $12,000.00 |
|
|
BOULDER OPAL PENDANT 18K SOLID GOLD DESIGNER PC $9,000.00 |
|
|
MASSIVE 64+ct AUSTRALIAN BOULDER OPAL 18k GOLD NECKLACE PENDANT $8,500.00 |
|
|
"Amore" - Boulder OPAL - 25 x 19mm - Brightest Ever! $6,500.00 |
|
|
ATC5208: SOLID BOULDER OPAL Flag Harlequin SEE VIDEO $6,300.00 |
|
|
SYMPHONY - Australian Boulder OPAL Gem - 13.8CT 21x11mm $5,000.00 |
|
|
14k Gold Diamond Ring Boulder Opal HUGE Large Purple Wt $4,500.00 |
|
|
"Starry Eyes" - Boulder OPAL 18.2 Carats 28x13.6mm $3,600.00 |
|
|
"Cougar" Boulder OPAL - 9.0 Carats 17.5 x 14.5mm $3,600.00 |
|
|
3,200 ct. BIG SIZE 100% NATURAL PLAY OF MULTICOLOR BOULDER OPAL MATRIX ROUGH $3,500.00 |
|
|
NEW GURHAN 24K GOLD 35.15ct BOULDER OPAL COCKTAIL RING $6660 $3,450.00 |
|
|
56,700 Carat Lot of RARE 1930's COLLECTION of BOULDER OPAL! 25 Full Pounds! $3,249.99 |
|
|
Australian Boulder Opal Fish Lapidary Carving $24.99 ONE Australia boulder opal fish lapidary carving. YOU GET THE ONE SHOWN Boulder Opal Healing Properties * Creativity * Originality In addition to the generic properties of Opal, Boulder Opal aids inner beauty and faithfulness. It helps recall past lives, enhances mental clarity, emotional security, physical well-being, and spiritual progression. Boulder Opal aids eyesight.... |
|
|
Kraus C-GV-430-14-12mm-10SN 14-Inch Boulder Opal Glass Vessel Sink and Waterfall Faucet, Satin Nickel $239.95 Finish:Satin Nickel This Boulder Opal 14' Glass Vessel Sink & Waterfall Faucet combination is both stylish & exquisite.It will turn an ordinary bathroom into a lavish & trendy space. The vessel sink creates a perfect harmony of elegance & modern design. Single Lever Deck-mounted Vessel Faucet Constructed from solid brass Features a glass disc Mounting hardware: Included Hot and Cold Waterlin... |
|
|
Kraus C-GVR-430-RE-10CH Boulder Opal Rectangular Glass Vessel Sink and Waterfall Faucet, Chrome $249.95 Finish:Chrome This Boulder Opal Rectangular Glass Sink & Waterfall Faucet combination is both stylish & exquisite.It will turn an ordinary bathroom into a lavish & trendy space. The vessel sink creates a perfect harmony of elegance & modern design. Single Lever Deck-mounted Vessel Faucet Constructed from solid brass Features a glass disc Mounting hardware: Included Hot and Cold Waterlines: I... |
