We often got asked why our Opals were far more ‘expensive’ than the ones that could be found at the local markets or online markets. The answer? Because our Opals are real, and those probably are not. So, how do you tell if an Opal piece is real or fake?
Occasionally we would have people come into the store to try to trade in Opals, which they didn’t know were fake. That of course, isn’t their fault. These people would often walk away disappointed after finding out from us that their Opals weren’t worth as much as they thought they would be.
One time we had a guy come to my house to fix our garage. He was telling us that he spent $6000 on what he thought was a real Black Opal. He later found out through a jeweller that it was, in fact, not real.
How disappointing would that be?
The best way to tell if an Opal is real or fake is to look at the price tag. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is a fake.
Now, don’t forget that there are Doublet and Triplet Opals as well. These technically aren’t ‘fake’ but they have been enhanced to look more vibrant and usually cost significantly less than a genuine solid Black or White Opal. They are great for those who are on a budget and are more after the ‘look’ rather than value.
Triplet and Doublet Opals both contain a backing, which is used to enhance the colour. A thin slice of Opal is then layered on top. A Triplet Opal has an extra top layer of a clear dome, usually a plastic or quartz of some sort.
Solid Black Opals and White Opals on the contrary are more expensive because of the rarity, the purity and the investment value that they have. It is predicted that Black Opal production will end as the amount of natural Opal continues to decline. This means that you should definitely get the Black Opal now! You can keep it as an heirloom or an investment piece in the long run 😉
Read more about the types of Opal here.