In an effort to help you learn more about opal, we have put together a list of terms and their meanings that are used in this web site. If you still have questions that need answers please email us.

Triplet

A stone made of three parts. 1) The base can be made of various materials, however, we try to use materials that are temperature stable and compatible with opal e.g. glass, obsidian, ironstone (boulder) or potch (opal without colour).  We use glass because it is readily available in the thickness we want.  2) The centre is a thin slice of opal that is either painted or dyed black. This is done to highlight the colour and pattern in the opal.  3) The top, cap or covering, can be glass, moulded crystal or quartz.  Each of these transparent materials represents a different hardness.  Each of the three layers are laminated together with the latest epoxy resins or compounds.  As much as these compounds are state of the art, I would not recommend getting triplets wet.

Doublet

A stone made of two parts. 1) The base can be made of various materials, however, we try to use materials that are temperature stable and compatible with opal e.g. glass, obsidian, ironstone (boulder) or potch (opal without colour). We use ironstone (boulder) because of its natural beauty. It looks great when used with open backed jewellery.  2) The top, being opal, is either painted or dyed black then laminated to the base with an epoxy resin. The darkening of the opal helps to highlight colour and pattern. When the epoxy resin is dry, the stone is cut and polished into a doublet. As much as the epoxy resin we use in making a doublet is state of the art, I would not recommend getting it wet. 

Solid

A solid opal is a natural stone that is cut and polished, as one piece, in a particular way to highlight the natural beauty of the stone.  This may be a cabochon or carving.

Carving

Not every piece of opal should be cut the same way.  This is the reason that triplets and doublets exist.  Sometimes a piece of rough opal needs to be carved.  This may be done to accentuate certain colours or patterns or to make the most of the opal without too much loss.  Carving is a free flowing expression in opal that may or may not have standard shape or form.

Andamooka Treated Matrix

Andamooka is a small opal mining town located in the mid north of South Australia. A type of opal is found there called matrix. It can best be described as opal that has not fully formed. There are many different grades of matrix, from porous material with minimal colour to glassy hard material with striking colours. Not all matrix will treat or need to be treated. All the stones on this site have been treated unless otherwise stated. The treatment process involves cooking the matrix in a concentrated sugar and water solution, then soaking the matrix in acid to carbonise the sugar. Without treatment, matrix is light in appearance with minimal colour.