Guides on opal and pearl jewelry, gem care, and custom commissions
from Richard Lewis.
OpalsLightning Ridge: Australia’s Black Opal CountryA jeweler's guide to Lightning Ridge opal: where the town is, why its claystone ground makes black opal, and how the mining fields work.Read moreOpalsDefine Opal: The Stone, the Word, and What CountsThe definition of opal: hydrated amorphous silica, where the word came from, what counts as real opal, and the six forms a rough parcel…Read moreBirthstonesAlexandrite: June’s Color-Changing BirthstoneAlexandrite is June's rarest birthstone, green by day and red by night. A jeweler explains the color change, its history, value, and natural versus…Read moreBirthstonesJune 21 Birthstone: What Stone Is It?Born on June 21? Your birthstones are June's three: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. A jeweler explains the solstice cusp and which stone to choose.Read moreBirthstonesWhy Does June Have 3 Birthstones?June has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. A jeweler explains why, where the list came from, and that all three are equally official.Read moreBirthstonesJune Birthstone: Pearl, Moonstone and AlexandriteJune has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. How to tell them apart, what each suits, and which to choose.Read moreBirthstonesOctober Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline ExplainedOctober has two birthstones, opal and tourmaline. What each one is, the tourmaline colors, how to tell them apart, and which to choose.Read moreBirthstonesOpal Birthstone: October’s Stone of ColorOpal is October's traditional birthstone. Why it makes a wonderful, one-of-a-kind birthday gift, how to choose one, and how to care for it.Read moreOpalsWhat Does Opal Look Like? A Visual Guide to Opal PatternsA visual guide to what opal looks like: body tone, the main play-of-color patterns, which colors are rare, and how the main types appear.Read moreOpalsRare Opal Varieties: Harlequin, Contra Luz and Other PrizesThe rare opals collectors chase: harlequin, contra luz, red-on-black, Yowah nuts and Virgin Valley, and what makes each so sought after.Read moreOpalsOpalized Fossils: When Ancient Life Turns to OpalOpalized fossils are shells and bones that slowly turned to opal. What they are, how they form, where they are found, and whether you…Read moreOpalsTypes of Opal: A Complete List of Opal VarietiesA complete, plain-English list of the types of opal, grouped by body tone, host rock and origin, with a word on doublets and which…Read moreOpalsHow Are Opals Made? Opal Formation and MiningHow opals form over millions of years from silica and water, where they are found, and how they are mined at Coober Pedy and…Read moreOpalsWhat Is Opal? A Jeweler’s Plain GuideWhat is opal, in plain terms: the definition, where the word comes from, what counts as real opal, precious versus common, and the six…Read moreOpalsWhite and Crystal Opal: A Jeweler’s Guide to the Lighter OpalsWhite and crystal opal explained: how the transparent crystal and milky white opals differ, where they come from, what they are worth, and who…Read moreOpalsAustralian Opal: The Benchmark of the Opal WorldAustralian opal, the benchmark of the opal world: the great fields (Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, Queensland), why it is so prized, and how it…Read moreOpalsBoulder Opal: A Jeweler’s Guide to Opal in IronstoneBoulder opal explained by a jeweler of 50 years: opal in ironstone, why the rock backing makes it tough and vivid, where it comes…Read moreOpalsFire Opal: A Jeweler’s Guide to the Glowing OpalFire opal explained by a jeweler of 50 years: what makes it glow, why it is named for body color not play-of-color, where it…Read moreOpalsOpal Colors and Play-of-Color: Which Are Rare and WhyOpal colors ranked by rarity, with the silica-sphere physics behind play-of-color: why red is the rarest flash, which colors are common, and how pattern…Read moreOpalsOpal Meaning and Symbolism: Folklore, Birthstone and What Opal RepresentsOpal meaning and symbolism: the folklore, the bad-luck myth debunked, opal as the October birthstone and 14th anniversary gift, and what opal represents.Read moreOpalsBlack Opal: Why Lightning Ridge’s Finest Is the Most PrizedWhy black opal is the most prized opal: what 'black' really means, where it comes from, and how to judge body tone, brightness, pattern…Read moreOpalsHow Much Is Opal Worth? A Jeweler’s Guide to Opal ValueHow much is opal worth? A jeweler explains the factors that set opal value, rough price ranges by type, and how to avoid overpaying.Read moreOpalsUnderstanding Opal: A Jeweler’s Complete GuideA jeweler of 50 years explains how opal gets its color, the opal family at a glance, what sets the value, and how to…Read moreOpalsEthiopian vs Australian Opal: What’s the Difference?Ethiopian vs Australian opal explained by a jeweler of 50 years: origin, fire, hardness, water sensitivity, price, and which one is right for you.Read morePearlsWhat Is an Abalone Pearl? A Guide to a Rare Natural GemWhat is an abalone pearl, why is it so rare, and how do you care for one? A jeweler of 50 years explains these…Read moreJewelry CareHow to Care for Opal JewelryHow to clean, store, and protect opal jewelry so it keeps its fire for life, from a jeweler with 50 years at the bench.…Read more