The Ultimate Guide to White Opal
The opal has long been prized throughout human history. From empresses and queens, to fictional characters and common folk alike, opal has its place assured in the roster of famous gemstones.
White opal is one of the most beautiful opals in the world. You'll know a precious opal when you see it, because its iridescence distinguishes it immediately. The presence of certain minerals within a precious opal produces an optical effect in white light, like flashes of colored light.
The white opal is a very common opal but is still extremely coveted. It's ethereal, iridescent beauty is the stuff of legends. Let's learn more about this precious stone in the following white opal guide.
What is White Opal?
So what is a white opal? Opal is a hydrated, amorphous type of silica that can be technically classified as a mineraloid. But that doesn't tell us very much. A white opal is sometimes also called a "milky" opal, and it's distinguished by a pale, white overall color. Scattered amidst the opal's body are flecks of mineral inclusions. These are what diffract light and produce the celebrated opalescence.
It's important to note that white opals are not the only type of opal l that's out there. You might hear of black opals, for instance, or even something called boulder opals. These are the most valuable types of opals, and that is because their overall dark color causes the iridescent flashes of light to appear all the more striking in contrast. Synthetic opal also exists. Synthetic variants look exactly the same as natural opal but boast more durability as well as being much more affordable. Of course with synthetic opals, you're not getting the real thing which is the tradeoff.
White opal, in addition to its relative ubiquity, is the least expensive of the kinds of opals. But white opals are still beautiful for all that—and they have a fascinating lore about them that's all their own.
So what is a white opal? Opal is a hydrated, amorphous type of silica that can be technically classified as a mineraloid. But that doesn't tell us very much. A white opal is sometimes also called a "milky" opal, and it's distinguished by a pale, white overall color. Scattered amidst the opal's body are flecks of mineral inclusions. These are what diffract light and produce the celebrated opalescence.
It's important to note that white opals are not the only type of opal l that's out there. You might hear of black opals, for instance, or even something called boulder opals. These are the most valuable types of opals, and that is because their overall dark color causes the iridescent flashes of light to appear all the more striking in contrast. Synthetic opal also exists. Synthetic variants look exactly the same as natural opal but boast more durability as well as being much more affordable. Of course with synthetic opals, you're not getting the real thing which is the tradeoff.
White opal, in addition to its relative ubiquity, is the least expensive of the kinds of opals. But white opals are still beautiful for all that—and they have a fascinating lore about them that's all their own.
Colors, Meaning, and Significance
As the name suggests, white opals are noted for their pale, colorless, white body color. This can range from slightly darker shades of pale, to a beautiful milky white or even a spectacular translucence.This colorless opal will still flash with the scintillant sparks of inclusions, producing the iridescent beauty for which opals are prized for.
The white opal stone is considered to be the birthstone of those happy individuals born in the autumn month of October. In bygone days, the white opal was celebrated as a guarantor of assurance and fidelity. It was associated with religious prayer in later ages, and it was thought to have curative properties for eye disorders. The mystical significance of the white opal is if worn as an amulet, it was believed to render its wearer immune to disease, and to sharpen eyesight and the powers of the mind. Best of all, the white opal participated in the powers of other gemstones, to the extent it displayed their colors in its opalescent flashes of light.
Opal is also October's Birthstone and is perfect and makes for a perfect gift for a loved one born in the month of October.
As the name suggests, white opals are noted for their pale, colorless, white body color. This can range from slightly darker shades of pale, to a beautiful milky white or even a spectacular translucence.This colorless opal will still flash with the scintillant sparks of inclusions, producing the iridescent beauty for which opals are prized for.
The white opal stone is considered to be the birthstone of those happy individuals born in the autumn month of October. In bygone days, the white opal was celebrated as a guarantor of assurance and fidelity. It was associated with religious prayer in later ages, and it was thought to have curative properties for eye disorders. The mystical significance of the white opal is if worn as an amulet, it was believed to render its wearer immune to disease, and to sharpen eyesight and the powers of the mind. Best of all, the white opal participated in the powers of other gemstones, to the extent it displayed their colors in its opalescent flashes of light.
Opal is also October's Birthstone and is perfect and makes for a perfect gift for a loved one born in the month of October.
As the name suggests, white opals are noted for their pale, colorless, white body color. This can range from slightly darker shades of pale, to a beautiful milky white or even a spectacular translucence.This colorless opal will still flash with the scintillant sparks of inclusions, producing the iridescent beauty for which opals are prized for.
The white opal stone is considered to be the birthstone of those happy individuals born in the autumn month of October. In bygone days, the white opal was celebrated as a guarantor of assurance and fidelity. It was associated with religious prayer in later ages, and it was thought to have curative properties for eye disorders. The mystical significance of the white opal is if worn as an amulet, it was believed to render its wearer immune to disease, and to sharpen eyesight and the powers of the mind. Best of all, the white opal participated in the powers of other gemstones, to the extent it displayed their colors in its opalescent flashes of light.
Opal is also October's Birthstone and is perfect and makes for a perfect gift for a loved one born in the month of October.
How Expensive are Opal Rings?
Now, if you're looking to buy white opal rings, it's important to know something of the prices they fetch.
The cost of white opal is less than that of other opals, such as black and boulder opals, as we've already indicated. The reasons for this are that white opals are the most common form of opal, and darker opals are more valued for their beautiful contrast of colors.
But that doesn't mean that white opals should be overlooked. They can be extremely beautiful in their own right, with the glorious whiteness of the opal enlivened by a glittering galaxy of iridescent flakes.
Some of the most beautiful of Australian white opals can fetch a price of around $150 per carat, which isn't too shabby. Of course, additional factors, such as the color patterns and brightness of the opal, synthetic, and other factors can affect the final price.
Now, if you're looking to buy white opal rings, it's important to know something of the prices they fetch.
The cost of white opal is less than that of other opals, such as black and boulder opals, as we've already indicated. The reasons for this are that white opals are the most common form of opal, and darker opals are more valued for their beautiful contrast of colors.
But that doesn't mean that white opals should be overlooked. They can be extremely beautiful in their own right, with the glorious whiteness of the opal enlivened by a glittering galaxy of iridescent flakes.
Some of the most beautiful of Australian white opals can fetch a price of around $150 per carat, which isn't too shabby. Of course, additional factors, such as the color patterns and brightness of the opal, synthetic, and other factors can affect the final price.
Our Favorite White Opal Rings
Patrick Adair Designs utilizes synthetic bello opal for all of its rings. This is because synthetic bello opal looks almost identical to the real deal while boasting much more durability than natural opal. Natural opals are extremely brittle and will crack with ease whereas bello opal will last a lifetime if properly taken care of. Natural opal will also have quite a few imperfections due to its internal structure. Synthetic opals do not have this issue since they are lab created.
Below are some of our favorite wedding bands that incorporate our "Pearl White" Opal.
Pearl White Obsidian Opal Ring
If you're looking for the finest white opal ring that money can buy, it'll be hard to surpass our ethereal Pearl White Opal Ring.
Its glimmering white background color is accented by the presence of teal and orange colors in a shimmering iridescence.
It comes with a handcrafted "obsidian" finish that features plenty of facets to reflect the light and make the most of the white opal's incredible beauty. Plus, the ring is infused with a resin to make it as resilient and crack-resistant as possible.
If you're looking for the finest white opal ring that money can buy, it'll be hard to surpass our ethereal Pearl White Opal Ring.
Its glimmering white background color is accented by the presence of teal and orange colors in a shimmering iridescence.
It comes with a handcrafted "obsidian" finish that features plenty of facets to reflect the light and make the most of the white opal's incredible beauty. Plus, the ring is infused with a resin to make it as resilient and crack-resistant as possible.
The Ghost Ring
If you want something a little more affordable, but no less beautiful, take a look at our magnificent white opal Ghost Ring.
This beautiful ring consists of a white ceramic core with an inlay of crushed white opal. The pearlescent colors of the opal shimmer in the sunlight, and the ring even glows a soft white in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet light.
It is, without a doubt, the perfect ring for those born in the spooky month of October.
If you want something a little more affordable, but no less beautiful, take a look at our magnificent white opal Ghost Ring.
This beautiful ring consists of a white ceramic core with an inlay of crushed white opal. The pearlescent colors of the opal shimmer in the sunlight, and the ring even glows a soft white in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet light.
It is, without a doubt, the perfect ring for those born in the spooky month of October.
If you want something a little more affordable, but no less beautiful, take a look at our magnificent white opal Ghost Ring.
This beautiful ring consists of a white ceramic core with an inlay of crushed white opal. The pearlescent colors of the opal shimmer in the sunlight, and the ring even glows a soft white in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet light.
It is, without a doubt, the perfect ring for those born in the spooky month of October.