shape
carat
color
clarity

Any Opal lovers out there? Show and Tell please.

BlingObsession

Shiny_Rock
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Other than locale, what distinguishes Andamooka opal from Coober Peedy opal?
I am going to flick this over to a jordan @jordyonbass to answer. I personally have a preference for white body colour in my opals - over black! I just prefer that look. Am I an odd ball?
 

jordyonbass

Ideal_Rock
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Other than locale, what distinguishes Andamooka opal from Coober Peedy opal?

Both locations are known for their white/crystal opal, however Andamooka is known for producing a type of seam opal that has layers and layers of different colours, usually very clean and can also come in very large sizes. While Coober Pedy does get the same layered colour bar formation in it's seam opal, I personally find it's not of the same quality as Andamooka and doesn't usually have as many different colours. There are exceptions to the rule of course but generally that's what I have found with opal from those locations.

Lightning Ridge is my first love though :mrgreen2:
 

chatoyancy

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Both locations are known for their white/crystal opal, however Andamooka is known for producing a type of seam opal that has layers and layers of different colours, usually very clean and can also come in very large sizes. While Coober Pedy does get the same layered colour bar formation in it's seam opal, I personally find it's not of the same quality as Andamooka and doesn't usually have as many different colours. There are exceptions to the rule of course but generally that's what I have found with opal from those locations.

Lightning Ridge is my first love though :mrgreen2:
Thanks for the answer! Lightening Ridge is famous for black opals, right?
 

Bron357

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60D11961-E8DA-486A-B479-2B1E545A3129.jpeg I’m posting here again because I’m smitten.
Aren’t these earrings just divine.
They are either solid or doublet, I can’t tell due to the setting.
I’d say Chaff pattern, maybe slightly towards Jigsaw ? Body tone N1 I’d say and brightness 4, so overall very nice. Lots of red too.
 

chieftd

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Jun 11, 2012
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Just wanted to share a couple of pics of a nice Koroit Boulder Opal I picked up last year. I had it made into a pendant. I honestly tried to give it to my wife, but she picked a nice Jadeite pendant instead. :) So, I wear it on my chain, it really pops in the sunlight. Aloha All, Tim

opal.jpg opal pendant.jpg
 

BlingObsession

Shiny_Rock
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And here is the finished Andamooka Opal from MsOpalWorld / @jordyonbass

I did try very hard to set it a little differently to many of my other rings but it just wasn't working - after several wax mock-ups we ended back with this design which is very much like my gem silica in my avatar except for bezels instead of claws. I do love it though.

It is very hard to capture the colours of the opal but you get the idea.

IMG_3269.JPG IMG_3259.JPG IMG_3260.JPG IMG_3261.JPG
 

Bron357

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And here is the finished Andamooka Opal from MsOpalWorld / @jordyonbass

I did try very hard to set it a little differently to many of my other rings but it just wasn't working - after several wax mock-ups we ended back with this design which is very much like my gem silica in my avatar except for bezels instead of claws. I do love it though.

It is very hard to capture the colours of the opal but you get the idea.

IMG_3269.JPG IMG_3259.JPG IMG_3260.JPG IMG_3261.JPG
Love this. It’s perfect.
I dream of setting my opals just like that.
Sigh.
 

Acinom

Super_Ideal_Rock
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And here is the finished Andamooka Opal from MsOpalWorld / @jordyonbass

I did try very hard to set it a little differently to many of my other rings but it just wasn't working - after several wax mock-ups we ended back with this design which is very much like my gem silica in my avatar except for bezels instead of claws. I do love it though.

It is very hard to capture the colours of the opal but you get the idea.

IMG_3269.JPG IMG_3259.JPG IMG_3260.JPG IMG_3261.JPG
Gorgeous!! a very chique and royal setting for your beautiful opal.
 

Acinom

Super_Ideal_Rock
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60D11961-E8DA-486A-B479-2B1E545A3129.jpeg I’m posting here again because I’m smitten.
Aren’t these earrings just divine.
They are either solid or doublet, I can’t tell due to the setting.
I’d say Chaff pattern, maybe slightly towards Jigsaw ? Body tone N1 I’d say and brightness 4, so overall very nice. Lots of red too.
I looooove these!!!
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
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Jan 22, 2014
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I looooove these!!!
Thank you. Aren’t they to die for!
And can you imagine how nice they’d look set just like BlingObssessions stunning ring.
I need to win the lottery!
My tastes are champagne but my budget s beer!
 

BlingObsession

Shiny_Rock
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And can you imagine how nice they’d look set just like BlingObssessions stunning ring.
I need to win the lottery!

I think you would be very surprised at how reasonable setting costs are here in Dubai. Hence the fact that I can get so many pieces done. I'm on a countdown to try and get everything set as we will most likely be heading back to Australia later this year. My blingobssession will come to a screeching halt as soon as we land on Australia's fair shores. I do love your earrings, Bron and actually really like their existing setting.
 

BlingObsession

Shiny_Rock
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Gorgeous!! a very chique and royal setting for your beautiful opal.

Aww - thanks Acinom. I wish I could do a better job of capturing how pretty the opal is - tricky little thing to photograph though.
 

Anne111

Shiny_Rock
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Nov 30, 2017
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381
Scrolling through all these beauties, it seems opals are easier to photograph than many other gems. Very tempting. Thanks for showing.
 

BlingObsession

Shiny_Rock
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Scrolling through all these beauties, it seems opals are easier to photograph than many other gems. Very tempting. Thanks for showing.

Ooohh - no, I wouldn't say that. Having had a bunch loose in my hand and then set, I can assure you that nothing in my photographs is anywhere near close to the ethereal play of colour in real life. I find them an absolute nightmare - I just cannot do them justice at all. But then, maybe I'm just a crap photographer hahah! :nono:
 

Acinom

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Scrolling through all these beauties, it seems opals are easier to photograph than many other gems. Very tempting. Thanks for showing.
I agree with @BlingObsession .
When I received mine the real thing was different from the vendor photo’s... In a good way.
And as an crappy photographer I cannot grasp in a photo what I am seeing in real life. Opals are mesmerizing yet hard to grasp in a picture
 

Catmom

Super_Ideal_Rock
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12,414
And here is the finished Andamooka Opal from MsOpalWorld / @jordyonbass

I did try very hard to set it a little differently to many of my other rings but it just wasn't working - after several wax mock-ups we ended back with this design which is very much like my gem silica in my avatar except for bezels instead of claws. I do love it though.

It is very hard to capture the colours of the opal but you get the idea.

IMG_3269.JPG IMG_3259.JPG IMG_3260.JPG IMG_3261.JPG

Very pretty!!!
 

Catmom

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Apr 6, 2005
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12,414
Scrolling through all these beauties, it seems opals are easier to photograph than many other gems. Very tempting. Thanks for showing.

No not easier at all. A photo can not capture the play of colors in an opal. Something you can see clear as day may never show up in a photo. It's all about the movement that can never be seen in a photo.
 

chl

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May 28, 2018
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Dior Fine Jewelry headed by Creative Director, Victoire de Castellane has the best opal. the way she utilizes them, bring them to life and designs around them - spectacular.
 

Anne111

Shiny_Rock
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Nov 30, 2017
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381
True, color movement only on videos, but 'fixed' colors without brilliancy?
 

Arkteia

Ideal_Rock
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No not easier at all. A photo can not capture the play of colors in an opal. Something you can see clear as day may never show up in a photo. It's all about the movement that can never be seen in a photo.

Yes, and if it has several flashes of color, you also have to hold it in such a position that people would see all. It is at times difficult.
 

theredspinel

Brilliant_Rock
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Nov 14, 2015
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I'm loving all these opal pictures. :love:
One of my favorite things about opals is their ability to show so many beautiful colors...all in one stone.

I only have one opal but I hope to one day find a pretty black opal too.
Here's mine:
Pretty green flashes.
image_4246.jpg

This one isn't great quality but shows the orange flashes my opal gets.
image_4247.jpg

Elle! Did you ever set this beauty?
 
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