Opal, the gemstone of colors—the charm of opals exhibiting play-of-color (Precious opal) lies in the fact that we cannot appreciate all of their beauty from a single angle. As the gem is slowly moved beneath light, various colors may emerge according to the viewing angle. This phenomenon is known as play-of-color, with each individual opal displaying a unique play-of- color pattern. Meanwhile, there are also opals without play-of-color (Common opal), which offer beauty through their bodycolor and material texture in a different manner.
To understand how these colors occur and why each type of opal possesses a distinct appearance, the story begins as opals gradually formed within the cavities of rock as follows.
Read the gemstone guide
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