Pink Opal and Purple Opal: What They Really Are
Pink opal and purple opal explained: the real Peruvian stone, how red opal differs, and what Mexican purple opal actually means.
buying guide
How to choose, compare and judge the quality of a gem or piece.
Blue Opal: Peruvian Stone vs Blue Play-of-Color
Blue opal explained: how Peruvian blue opal differs from precious opal with blue play-of-color, plus meaning and how each wears in a ring or necklace.
Mining for Opals: Inside the Australian Opal Fields
Opal mining explained: underground shafts, noodling, and the miners I buy rough from directly, from a working goldsmith.
Dark Opal and the Opal Body Tone Scale
Dark opal explained: how it differs from black opal on the N1 to N9 body tone scale, and what that means for value, setting, and wear.
Alexandrite: June’s Color-Changing Birthstone
Alexandrite is June’s rarest birthstone, green by day and red by night. A jeweler explains the color change, its history, value, and natural versus lab-grown.
Rare Opal Varieties: Harlequin, Contra Luz and Other Prizes
The rare opals collectors chase: harlequin, contra luz, red-on-black, Yowah nuts and Virgin Valley, and what makes each so sought after.
Types of Opal: A Complete List of Opal Varieties
A complete, plain-English list of the types of opal, grouped by body tone, host rock and origin, with a word on doublets and which to choose.
How Much Is Opal Worth? A Jeweler’s Guide to Opal Value
How much is opal worth? A jeweler explains the factors that set opal value, rough price ranges by type, and how to avoid overpaying.
Understanding Opal: A Jeweler’s Guide to Types, Color and Value
A jeweler of 50 years explains what opal is, the main types (black, boulder, crystal, fire, Ethiopian, Australian), what sets the value, and how to choose.
Ethiopian 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.