A precious cat’s-eye boulder opal from Australia is examined in the Carlsbad laboratory.

Near-colorless heulandite crystals in an Ethiopian opal resemble the segmented bodies of worms.

Play-of-color pattern in Ethiopian opal is reminiscent of a turtle’s shell.

A black opal cabochon set in a ring displays vivid orange play-of-color.

A look at the variety of rough and finished Brazilian opal offered by Prime Gems at the GJX show.

An ocean blue variety of opal from Chile was introduced at the 22nd Street show in Tucson.

Opening day at the AGTA GemFair included the unveiling of the “Treasure Chest II with Blue Boy” intarsia jewelry box.

Reports on the recent production of precious and common opal from a centuries-old locality.

A newly developed treatment creates a phantom structure in opal visually similar to natural phantom opal.

One of the finest specimens of double pseudomorph ikaite-calcite-opal ever unearthed was on display at the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show.

The life of one of Australia’s leading opal authorities is remembered.

At the AGTA show, we spoke with Natassa Patel, who along with her mother, Salma, owns and operates True Blue Opals and Gems.