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The most valuable and sought-after opals in the world come from Lightning Ridge in NSW. Possessing a naturally darker body tone - ranging from dark grey and semi-black to jet black - they are known as Black Opals.
Prized for their high contrast and array of brilliant colours, black opals are popular for creating bold statement pieces. Opal Diamond Factory’s John Ryneš and Mike Saj-Ryneš have been collecting and cutting for more than 45 years, and understand how to bring each stone’s hidden beauty to light. Our ties to mining communities - established over 45 years in the industry - give us access to a stunning variety of exquisite black opals.
Black opals are known to be the rarest opal variety because there are less of them. They are also said to be the most valuable because the color is the most vivid. The black opal shines with color similar to any other opal, which is why it is said to be the rarest variety.
Some black opals are prized as highly as diamonds because of their rarity. Black opal is the most valuable of the opals.
According to jewellery sources, the most valuable black opals come from opal fields in and near Coober Pedy and Kurrawa Queensland, and the most popular black opal gemstone is the 'black opal doublet' which consists of an opal backing and an opal top.
It is either a man-made doublet made of colorless opal (commonly White Opal) with an opal top such as Trachyte, or a natural stone where the backing is a Black Opal and the top is a White Opal.
Black opals are characterized by flashes of bright, deep reds and oranges caused by the different types and layers of silica that reflect and absorb
Black Opal is the rarest and most valuable opal on earth.
Black opal is rare because of its full spectrum of color. The ability to produce its deep, uniform black body with all hues, is what makes it the rarest type of opal.Black opal is rare because of its full spectrum of color.
Black opal is the rarest opal on earth. It is extremely rare because it is not found in the traditional mining areas of Australia, but rather in remote and very hard to access locations in the country's north.
The opal is a beautiful gemstone, but only a handful of places on the planet have been known to produce it. Lightning Ridge, Australia, is one of those rare places. In fact, this small town on the continent's east coast produces more opals than anywhere else in the world. In fact, only about 1,000 people live there, which is about double the population of Vatican City.
Black opals are so hard to find. The gems are formed when a solution of silicone dioxide and water evaporates from the cracks of sandstone. The darker the body tone, or the more opaque it is, the more desirable it is. This composition means that black opals are more delicate than diamonds.
It can cost over $10,000 per carat, making it one of the most expensive gemstones in the world. What makes black opal so expensive? Black opal is one of the most enchanting gems in the world, sought after for its seemingly infinite color spectrum. However, mining black opal is incredibly difficult.
In Australia, Lightning Ridge is famous for black opal, the darkest and most valuable form of opal. The White Cliffs are known for white opal. The mining fields are synonymous with the world's most famous gem quality black opals from Lightning Ridge
Opal is one of the most fascinating gemstones in the world. It dates back centuries, and it's origins are lost in time. It was named "opalos" in Rome, and eventually became known as "black opal." The name "black opal" describes its dark body tone, and it's easy to see why! Opal is a unique gemstone that can't be matched. It symbolizes creative stimulation and ingenuity, and no two opals are the same.
AUD$1 million. 180 carats. Measures 3 by 1.8 inches. The rarest of all opals, a black opal from 1938 is the most valuable in the world. It was found six meters below the seabed, and it features an unmistakable impression of a starfish on the back.
Overall RatingIncredibly helpful and friendly staff. Worked with me to create the perfect ring for my partner and it's absolutely stunning.
I have done the research for you, so you can just go ahead and use ODF and not bother looking any further. Exceptional customer service, brilliantly talented and the kind of honesty in sales that is not regularly encountered. We could not be happier with our experience with Mike and will continue to use him in the future! Thank you, Mike!
We finally found the perfect one 💍 an opal engagement ring that we both love! Mike was great to work with and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an engagement ring or other jewellery. He was very professional and patient as we looked at a variety of styles and opals.
Wonderful customer service! LGBT friendly - the whole family made me feel very welcome and accepted. The engagement ring was literally perfect, and my Fiancée loves it! I designed the ring and Mike was amazing helping me through the various stages of the ring's creation. We will be back for the wedding rings :) Thank you ODF!
Could not be happier with the service and product. The staff were amazing, gave me a variety of options and talked me through all the steps up front. Our engagement ring turned out absolutely stunning - Thanks again to Mark and the team!
Extremely helpful service with designing a custom ring! Understood exactly what I was after and delivered within my budget and time frame. Would highly recommend!
My engagement ring that i designed for my partner was perfect, great communication from mike, and the way he listened and put in his own thoughts and recommendations as well made the ring just absolutely stunning and jaw dropping for me and my new fiancé, if you are looking for a custom made engagement ring, this is the place. You WONT regret it
From my very first experience at ODF as a child, going into the shop just to browse the beautiful gems with my Mum, they have been nothing short of amazing. I have since bought multiple pieces for my family, all custom designed by Mike. I have been over the moon with every single piece. Mike's eye for detail is spectacular and his craftsmanship is exquisite. My fiancé designed my engagement ring with Mike, going over every fine detail, I love my ring so much. I recommend ODF for all jewellery, whether it be a piece bought in store or a custom piece designed by yourself and mike, I assure you won't be disappointed.
If you are reading these reviews in the hopes of finding a dream piece of jewellery (especially an engagement ring) then your search is complete. Out of all the locations I went to searching for an engagement ring, this was head and shoulders above the rest. A daunting process was made not only easy but enjoyable by the lovely people at The Opal Diamond Factory. They are caring, helpful and above all know what they are talking about. The whole process was made easy by Mike; from the sizing to the style, the stone itself and overall design features, anything seemed possible. I cannot praise this man and his skill enough; the care he puts into understanding what you want the design to say and the jewellery itself is amazing. As for the jewellery itself, it is nothing short of breathtaking. His ability to frame the centerpiece stone while also making the band stand out is phenomenal. For me this involved engraving the engagement band to make it appear as though it was a branch supporting an opal. The detail he was able to achieve with this was amazing. Not only this, but the quality of the opal and the range of choices and styles available will mean that there will definitely be something that catches your eye as ‘the one’. If you are like I was and are searching the internet in the hopes of finding something special, then you have found the location you are looking for. Stop reading this and ring, email or go to the store, you will not be disappointed by the service, care or heart stopping potential that their jewellery has.
It’s rare that you come across a true professional like Mike. Choosing a jeweller was an easy decision for my husband, when the time came to design my engagement ring in November 2019. My husband worked closely with Mike to design my bespoke emerald cut engagement ring, and then 18 months later, I had the pleasure, when it came to our wedding bands. The showroom is warm and welcoming – just like the family that works there, and we instantly felt comfortable, which made it easy for us to discuss our ideas openly and honestly. Mike’s knowledge and experience coupled with his understanding of current trends, is how we were able to create elegant and truly timeless pieces. The process was such a memorable and positive experience and I would highly recommend Opal Diamond Factory to all. True professionals that are driven by passion and pride.
