Different Types of Opals

Opals are like little pieces of magic, aren't they?

Now, when it comes to opals, there's a whole world to explore. You've got opals from different corners of the globe, but personally, I'm all about Australian opals opals—specifically crystal opals and boulder opals. Why ? Well, for starters, they're the best gemstones in terms of colour and durability.

You see, Australian opals, especially boulder opals, are as tough as nails. Unlike other opal varieties from Ethiopia, Brazil, solid opals are not porous, so they won't go sucking in moisture or liquids. Ethiopian opals, for instance; those babies can lose their colour over time if they get wet too often.

Let's talk types, shall we? There's solid opal, which is, well, solid as a rock. Then there are doublet and triplet opals, which are a bit more delicate—they're basically opal sandwiched between layers of resin. Now, while they're stunning, they're not exactly fond of water. Submerge them, and you risk damaging the glue that holds them together. Not ideal!

Now, onto some general opal care tips, especially for my beloved solid Australian opals:

- You can take them for a dip! Yup, shower, ocean—go wild!  But, they're delicate souls, so handle them with care.

- They scratch as easily as glass, so clean them gently with mild detergent and warm water, and definitely steer clear of bleach or ultrasonic cleaning machines - yikes.