Apr 3, 2019 · "Common opal," sometimes known as "potch", is a variety of opal that does not exhibit the flash and "play-of-color" seen in precious opal. However, common opal occurs in a variety of beautiful colors that includes a range of wonderful pastels.

Mar 5, 2025 · Common opal, or “potch,” is known for its simplicity and variety. Unlike the flashy precious opals, common opal doesn’t have play-of-color, but it has its own understated charm. We find it all around the world, formed from silica-rich waters that seep into the earth, filling cracks and voids in the rock. Over time, this silica solidifies ...

There are two broad classes of opal: precious and common. Precious opal displays play-of-color ( iridescence ); common opal does not. [ 6 ] Play-of-color is defined as "a pseudo chromatic optical effect resulting in flashes of colored light from certain minerals, as they are turned in white light."

Mar 22, 2023 · Witness the kaleidoscope of colors within the world of opals! A close-up look at 10 distinct opal types, accompanied by vivid images that reveal their intricate patterns and mesmerizing hues.

Jul 14, 2021 · If you’re wondering how to identify common opal, the easiest method is a scratch test. Common opals often look similar to other stones like jasper. However, common opal is significantly less durable than most gemstones, ranking at a 5.5-6 …

Sep 4, 2023 · The colors of common opal include orange-red fire opal, white milky opal, green prase opal, Peruvian pink and blue opal, yellow honey opal, brown wax opal and yellowish-green hyalite. Non-gem-quality common opal is fairly abundant and occurs as fracture and seam fillings, grain cement in sedimentary rocks and even as opalized wood.

Jul 14, 2021 · Based on body tone, white opal is the most common opal color, followed by gray opal and green opal. If you hear “common” and think “ordinary,” we’d like to ask you to think again! You could call this gem a master of disguise for the array of opal colors out there.

Common Opal is a specific type of opal that usually exists in one color, and has no play-of-color when flashed with light. Unlike precious opal, common opal appears to be “glassy” with transparent and translucent properties. A common blue opal or fire opal gemstone will predominantly reflect one pigment of color from any viewpoint.

There are two broad classes of opal: precious and common. Precious opal displays play-of-color, common opal does not. Play-of-color occurs in precious opal because it’s made up of sub-microscopic spheres stacked in a grid-like pattern—like layers of Ping-Pong balls in a box.

Common opal, often appearing creamy white, gray, or even brown, lacks the iridescent quality that many people associate with opal. Instead of showcasing vibrant flashes of color, common opal tends to exhibit a more uniform hue.