One Family, Countless Faces
Opal types are many, and hardly any gemstone is as varied as the opal. Which type comes from where, how they differ and which one suits you — you can see it all at a glance right here.
Click your way through the world map, compare the types directly and jump straight to the detailed profile.
Where do precious opals come from?
Tap a region. The map zooms in and shows you the opal types found there.
Tap a region above to see its opal types.
Australian Opals
Ethiopian Opals
Mexican Opals
Fire OpalWarm body color, can be faceted
Water OpalCrystal-clear hyaliteArticle coming soon
Opal from Honduras
Honduras OpalOpal in a black basalt matrixArticle coming soon
How are opal types classified?
Many familiar names are not a variety of their own but umbrella terms. The most important dividing line sits right at the top:
- Black Opal
- White Opal
- Boulder Opal
- Welo Opal
- Crystal Opal
- Fire Opal
- Harlequin Opal
- Milk Opal
- Hyalite / Water Opal
- Honey Opal
- Wood Opal
- Moss Opal
Within the precious opals, they are grouped by origin (Australian, Ethiopian, Mexican) and by appearance: crystal opal refers to the transparency, harlequin opal to the pattern, matrix opal to the way it is intergrown with the host rock.
“Water opal” is ambiguous: usually the crystal-clear Mexican hyalite, but colloquially also the clear Ethiopian Welo opal.
Compare opal types directly
Tap the types you are curious about and see them side by side.
Your opal comparison
On a phone two fit next to each other, and from the third one on you can scroll sideways.
Frequently asked questions about opal types
How many opal types are there?
There are a handful of important precious opal types: black, white, boulder, Welo, crystal and fire opal. On top of that come many names that describe an origin or an appearance rather than a variety of their own.
Which opal type is the most valuable?
The black opal from Lightning Ridge in Australia. Its dark base makes the play of color glow more intensely than in any other opal. The most valuable stones are those with a strong red fire, because red is the rarest color in the play of color.
Is “Australian opal” an opal type of its own?
No, that is an umbrella term for the origin. Black opal, boulder opal, white opal and the crystal opal from Lightning Ridge are all Australian opals.
What is the difference between precious opal and common opal?
Precious opal shows the famous play of color, common opal does not. A pure milk opal, for example, only shimmers, without the dancing fire inside.
Which opal type is the most affordable?
The white opal is the most common and least expensive precious opal. The Ethiopian Welo opal is an affordable entry point as well, with plenty of play of color.
What is a water opal?
Usually the crystal-clear, transparent Mexican opal (hyalite). Colloquially, clear Welo opal from Ethiopia is called that too.
Go deeper: how to identify a real opal, what your opal is truly worth, what opals mean and how to care for your opal the right way.
