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Opal inside outside

Roselina

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 1, 2020
Messages
1,096
Hi everyone!
So I have this old opal ring. inside it looks milky with little sparkle. As soon as in the sun it starts showing it‘s many different colour sparkles. Knowing nothing about opal - is this a common thing to happen?
 

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fredflintstone

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 18, 2020
Messages
921
Opal is like any other stone. Some will look better in indoor light depending on the light source. Some will look better in sunlight. Some will look great in both, yet different in each one. Different colors will show up under different lights. Some looks best and the pattern is largest under bright light. Some look best and the pattern is more metallic vivid under low light. Some will look great in both, yet different in both. Different colors will show up under different lighting intensities.

There is not really a general rule. No two Opals are the same. That is the thing that Opal has over any other gemstone. You could collect them all you life and still never have the same two.
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
6,527
White opal usually needs a decent light source, like sunshine, to show off the colours. So that’s not unusual.
Generally, the better the quality of opal, the better the colour display in more lighting conditions. It’s one reason why black opal is more valuable and desirable, the dark tone background shows off the colours better.
If you feel the surface of the opal and it’s “rough”, the opal could benefit from a “repolish”. Opals are quite soft and can easily be abraided by wear and tear. Not a good “everyday ring”, better for special occassions.
Opals are special gemstones, their formation is fascinating and no two are ever the same.
 
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