The name Opal is from the Sanskrit upala, which means jewel. There are hundreds of colour varieties of this stone, and there are two types of Opal; the Common Opal and the Precious Opal. The Common Opal is characterized by its translucence and its palette of colours that include red, green, blue, and orange. It’s also known for its dendritic inclusions. The Precious Opal displays different flashing colours called opalescence against white, dark brown, or black backgrounds. The opalescence appears as vivid colours that seem to float on the background, and it often has a blue or purple overall tone.
