Black Opal
Reviewed by David van Niekerk FGAA — Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Australia, qualified valuer.
Black opal is the opal collectors dream about. Against its dark body, every flash of blue, green, orange and red looks brighter and deeper than in any other opal. It comes almost entirely from one small corner of New South Wales.
What black opal is
"Black" describes the stone's body tone, the dark background behind the colour, not the colour you see. That dark body works like the black backing of a painting: it makes every colour on top stand out. Opal body tone is graded on a scale from black through dark to light; black opal sits at the darkest end.
Black opal is solid opal, one natural stone. Some black opals keep a little of the dark potch they formed on as part of the stone; that is still a solid, because nature joined them.
Where it comes from
Black opal comes from Lightning Ridge and the surrounding fields in north-west New South Wales. Lightning Ridge is a small outback town where much of the mining is still done by small teams working underground. The opal is often found as rounded nodules the miners call "nobbies".
What makes a fine black opal
- Body tone: the darker the body, the stronger the contrast. Dark grey is more common than true black.
- Colour: red is traditionally the most prized colour, then orange, then green. Red on a black body is the finest of all.
- Brightness: crisp, vivid colour with no cloudiness.
- Pattern: famous patterns include harlequin, flagstone, ribbon, pinfire and rolling flash.
- Character: the most important of all — the stone that tells your story.
Wearing and care
Like all opal, black opal is softer than quartz. A bezel setting protects a ring stone; pendants and earrings need little thought. Avoid harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners; clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush. More: How to care for opals · Where our opals come from.
See black opal in the shop
Our Opera House boutique holds one-of-a-kind black opals, set in Sydney. Visit us at Opera Quays, or browse the range online.