WHAT IS LIGHT OPAL?

This is a good question as most people refer to it as white opal or milky opal; however,
light opal comes in many forms just as black opal and boulder opal does.
The defining factor of an opal is its body tone, they are classified on a scale:

N1 to N9 with N1 to N4 being true black opal,

N5 to N7 being semi-black opal and
 
N7 to N9 being light opal.

White opal depiction 

The opal type usually has a creamy body tone but comes in many lighter colours and patterns. Regular light opal base tone ranges from white to medium grey.
The diffracted colours are much brighter as the stone can have a degree of transparency. Grey opal is always opaque or translucent with the colours being brighter.

Light crystal opal is the most precious as it allows light to pass through the entire stone and can exhibit brilliant colour play. An often-forgotten light opal subtype is jelly opal and has the appearance of gelatine, the colours are indistinct, and colour flecks are not as bright as high-grade crystal opals.

You will find especially in most of our ring and pendant designs we have taken this special characteristic of opal into account, to allow for the light to pass through the opal. 

Products in image: 

Mintabie White Opal 18k Ring   Coober Pedy Light Opal 18k Pendant

Mintabie White Opal Sterling silver Ring         Coober Pedy White Opal 18k Studs

WHERE LIGHT OPAL CAN BE FOUND?

Light opal is the most common precious opal type with the majority coming from South Australia especially from Coober Pedy. My father and I mined opal in Mintabie and some of my favourite crystal opals come from there and have increased in value since the field’s closure in December 2019.
Light opal can be found in other countries such as Brazil, Mexico, United States and Ethiopia. However, Australian light opals are renowned for their quality and stability due a much lower water content which means the stone is more stable and thus less likely to fracture.

WHICH TYPE OF OPAL IS BEST?

When asked which opal type is the best, I always suggest that it comes down to personal
preference akin to asking which painting style is the best. That is, everyone sees things differently and at the end of the day if the purchaser loves the opal they selected this is ultimately all that matters.

Further to this, my experience is the first stone that strikes the eye is typically the one purchased.