Solids, Doublets and Triplets
When buying diamonds, sapphires or rubies, you have either a real one or a synthetic. But with opal you can buy an expensive solid stone, or you can buy a triplet or a doublet. Doublets and triplets are far more affordable than solid opals–and they are still real opal.
Dark and Black Opal – Natural Opal Type 1
A solid piece of opal with a natural dark or black back. This makes the foreground of the stone darker and opaque [non see-through] on top. Black and dark opals come in all color variations.
Pale Opal – Natural Opal Type 1
A sold piece of opal without a natural black back. The stone has a lighter, more delicate color on top. When translucent [letting light through] it is called ‘crystal’ When opaque [not see through] it’s called ‘white’, ‘pale’ or ‘milk’ opal. They come in all color variations.
Boulder dark and black Opal – Natural Opal Type 2
A solid piece of boulder opal with a natural brown ironstone back, giving it a dark opal appearance from the top. Boulder opals are also dark or black opals. They come in all color variations.
Composite Natural Opal
A solid piece of opal cemented to a natural black [potch] backing, giving the appearance of black opal on top and is opaque. Because of this dark appearance it falls into the category of dark or black opal. The stone is made of TWO pieces. Hence the name DOUBLET. Doublets come in all color variations.
Composite Natural Opal
A thin piece of opal cemented to a black background with a crystal cap cemented to the top. The stone is made of three pieces. Hence the name TRIPLET. Triplets come in all color variations. They are also categorized as dark or black opals and are opaque [non see-through]
Natural Opal Type 2
When small flecks of opal color is found scattered throughout the boulder ironstone, its called ‘matrix’ or ‘boulder matrix’
Natural Opal Type 3
Andamooka Matrix is another variety of matrix opal. In this case the potch is porous enough to allow a dark staining process to take place, making the stone dark in appearance.
