Welcome to opalholicsanonymous.com where opal season lasts forever.

I hate to be the one that says Don't use the word crystal that way and make more people mad. Crystal means you can read thru it, not solid opal natural, unless you have a GIA or something reference for that term in widespread use. No matrix is a natural or has sand and clay pockets or potch but not a matrix opal which is a defined class, such as Andamooka or Honduran where the matrix itself is the opal. Only crystals are crystals and the Australians have a Jelly fit over the use of that as Virgin Valley Mexico and Ethiopia have a lot more of transparent precious opals not backed by potch. Opal is an amorphous silica without any crystallization.

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While I understand that opals aren't actually crystals they DO refer to clear opals as crystal.

From Black Opal Direct in Australia
http://blackopaldirect.com/learn-about- ... pal-types/

CRYSTAL OPAL
Crystal opal is translucent when held up to the light. Often the colors and patterns in crystal opal are more magnificent than black opal – they are just a bit more difficult to see. Crystal opal from Lightning Ridge is highly prized and I must admit some of my favorite opal.

And OpalAuctions also lists it.
https://www.opalauctions.com/learn/tech ... opal-terms

CRYSTAL OPAL
Crystal Opal. Transparent to translucent Precious Opal where play of colour is visible on the surface and in the interior of the stone.

Even GIA using the term.
https://www.gia.edu/opal-quality-factor
For example, in crystal opal, experts admire transparency...

Thanks KJ for the references. I was referring to the no matrix designation as having nothing to do with the whether it is a crystal class or not. As I was typing that I knew the semantics were making it weird. Transparency is not the same for all viewing angles anyway as directional stones and dead spots can be just like windows and a good crystal you can't see thru the precious play color anyway. More coffee.

Gotcha. And ya, more coffee. Always! lol

Hi all,

The opal I posted is translucent (although I do have a beautiful transparent cab too). It's *completely* transparent. I'll see if I can get a few decent images. If so, I'll post it up.

Don't mind me, and thanks for doing that, going off the second i read a word in a sentence. I just feel leaving the trail of comments always makes more sense even if it does make me look silly after KJ set me straight again. Less pressure that way to maintain a flawless facade. I might add on the translucency thing....If I had two white opals to choose from for any reason, I'd look thru them side ways and choose the one the was the greenest, least orange. Maybe they are semi crystals more?

That's OK John. At least it's not as much of a marketing ploy as Salt & Pepper diamonds... lol

LOL! No kidding KJ.

And Charles, that it a gorgeous opal, but since you posted it the same day as the one in the ironstone, I had to choose that one as my favorite, and forgot to comment on this, but it is definitely a real beauty.

Thank you.