Basic Gemstone Knowledge: Opal Triplet VS Opal Doublet VS Opal Solid

1. Basic Gemstone Knowledge: Opal Triplet vs Opal Doublet vs Opal Solid: Are you curious about the difference between different types of opals? Are opal triplets and opal doublets fake opals? Why do different types of Opals exist in the market? Have you ever hesitated about what type of opal to choose for yourself or for your loved ones for special occasions? After taking this class, you will become more confident in your opal choice. In this class, you will learn the basic knowledge of different types of opals and how to use a jeweler's loupe, like a professional gemmologist to examine them. The way to use a loupe also applies to other occasions. Whenever you want to examine a gemstone. This class is for anyone who is interested in the basic knowledge of opals. No previous gemstone knowledge is required. Only two things are required for this class. A pair of tweezers and a ten times jeweler's loupe. The PDF file in the class resource section has links showing where to get them if you are in the UK or in the US. Hi, my name is Huiyi. I'm a GIA, graduated gemmologist. I have been working with gemstones in the UK, Belgium, and America since 2003. Each year, I source gemstones around the world for my customers, in around 53 countries. Let me introduce you to the world of opal. 2. Class Project: The project for this class is to share some pictures of different types of Opal you own or you like in the project gallery. Please clearly tell if the one you are showing is an opal triplet. opal doublet or Opal solid. We would love to see different types of Opal you like or you own. 3. Using A Jeweler's Loupe in a Professional Way: To tell the difference between opal triplet, opal doublet and opal solid. We need to examine them, close up. The tool we are going to use to do this. is a jeweler's loupe. In this class, you will learn how to use one like a professional gemmologist. The PDF file in the class resource section shows where to get one online if you are in the US or UK. This is a standard jeweler's loupe. It has ten times magnifying power. We jewelers use these to examine gemstones. I am right-handed. So I'm showing you how to do this as a right-handed user. You can simply swap everything I say, to the other hand, if you're left-handed. First, you pick the loupe up with your thumb and middle finger like this. And then you push the lens out of the protective case with your index finger. Once the lens is out, you bend your index finger around the end of the case to hold onto it like this. You can see it from another angle here. Next, you pick up the opal with your tweezers like this and put your left hand next to the other one, holding the loupe. To examine the opal, you move both hands towards your face and position your thumb in front of your cheek bone like this. You can see how I do this from another angle. Squeeze your elbows into your side to create a solid stance with your right hand in front of your cheek bone and your left hand resting against your right. This position is really stable and will allow you to view the opal with minimal shaking. To get the loupe in focus. You adjust the distance between the opal and the loupe by moving the opal close to or further away from the loupe like this. Once it's focused, you can start examining your opal. One very important thing I have to point out is to make sure to keep both eyes open all the time. There are two reasons for this. First, having both eyes open will have your facial muscle relaxed all the time. Hence, this will prevent twitching. Second, this can avoid eye strain. It might sound difficult to begin with, but just practice a few times and you will get used to it. This is how the professional gemmologist, would use a jeweler's loupe. In this class, you have learned how to use a jeweler's loupe like a professional gemmologist. In the next class, Let's start examining some opals using our ten times jeweler's loupe. 4. What is Opal Triplet?: In this class, you will learn what an opal triplet is. Let's have a look at an opal triplet. This is what you will see under the ten times jeweler's loupe. From this angle, you are seeing it from the top of it. If I turn it sideways, this is what you will see. There are three layers here. The top, middle, and bottom layers. The very thin layer in the middle is solid opal. This is where the beauty of opal triplet comes from. The clear top layer acts as a protective layer. It has two functions. First is to protect the very thin opal layer. Second, it also acts as a magnifier to enhance the beauty of the solid opal in the middle. The solid layer on the bottom is the backing. It protects the solid opal slice from scratching on the other side and also makes this entire piece strong enough to be set in jewelry. Without the top and bottom layers, the very thin layer of solid opal in the middle would be too weak to be used in jewelry. Because it is made of three layers. It's called opal triplet. In this lesson, you have learned the structure of an opal triplet and the function of each layer. In the next lesson, let's have a look at an opal doublet. 5. What is Opal Doublet?: Welcome back. Now, let's have a look at an opal doublet. This is how it looks from the top. It shows the beauty of this opal doublet. This is how it looks from the side. As you can see, instead of three layers, this doublet has two layers. The one on the top is the solid opal, the back layer under is the backing. Because the solid opal is thicker than the one in the triplet, it doesn't need a protective layer to cover its top. As opal is a very soft material, this solid opal on its own is not thick enough to be set in jewelry for everyday use. In this case, the backing layer, will give it a solid support underneath. Because there are two layers. We can easily understand why it's called opal doublet. In this lesson, you have learned the structure of an opal doublet and why it has the second layer under. In the next lesson, let's take a look at an opal solid. 6. What is Opal Solid?: Well, I have saved the best for the last. Here is an opal solid. This is how it looks from the top. And this is how it looks once it's turned to the side. And this is how it looks from the back. It is a solid piece of precious opal all the way through. Because the opal is solid all the way through. I'm sure you are not surprised why it's called an opal solid. As you can see, the solid opal on this piece is much thicker than the one on both the opal triplet and Opal doublet. This thickness of this opal will be strong enough to withstand the stress during the setting process. In this lesson, you have learned what an opal solid is with all the understanding of all the differences between the three types of opals. In the next lesson, let's talk about why they exist in the market. 7. Market Value of 3 Different Types of Opals: So now, you know there is least solid opal inside of an opal triplet, then an opal doublet. And in an poal solid, it is precious opal all the way through. In this lesson, let's talk about why they exist in the market and the pros and cons of these three types of opals. There is no doubt that opal is beautiful. But as one of the softest gemstones used in jewelry, opal triplet makes it possible to be featured in various styles of jewelry because it only has a very thin layer of solid opal in the gemstone. It offers the beauty of opal with the fraction of the price of solid opal, with the most precious opal in an opal solid, with all the other factors equal, opal solid demands the highest price among these three. And opal doublet fits in between triplet and solid. Because the structure of solids, doublets and triplets, bench jewelers set them in different ways. For doublet and triplet opals, which have backings, they are normally bezel set like this to hide the backs. For opal solids, most of the time, the backs of the gemstone also show the beauty of the opal. Hence, they can be set with open backs. In this way, the back of the opal is exposed to be admired. Triplets, doublets, and opal solids all offer the beauty of opals, with different proportions of precious opal in, they suit different budgets. 8. Final Thoughts: Now you have learned the difference between opal triplet. opal doublet and opal solid. And the reason behind their market value. Next time, when you see them in person or online, you will know what they are. If you have seen or own, any of these opals do share a picture of them in the project gallery. And please also tell us whether they are opal triplet. opal doublet or opal solid. We would love to see different types of opals from you. Thank you very much for taking my class. If you're interested in knowing more about jewelry and jewelry making, please check out my other classes here on Skillshare. And I will see you in the next one.