PINFIRE
Small, pinpoint flashes of colour, like scattered sparks. Pinfire can create a delicate, glittering appearance.
LEARN TO SEE
PATTERN
The unique arrangement of colour that makes each opal one of a kind.
Pattern refers to the way colour is arranged within an opal. It influences how the stone looks, how it moves in the light, and plays a part in its overall beauty and value.
WHAT IS PATTERN?
Opal is made up of tiny silica spheres that diffract light, creating colour. Pattern describes the visual effect of this colour - how it appears, where it appears, and the shapes it forms. The arrangement of shapes form named patterns which create very different looks, from fine specks to broad and rolling flashes.
SOME REGULAR NAMES
Many opals display a combination of patterns, but these are some of the patterns you may hear about more often.
FLAGSTONE
Individual blocks or patches of colour. Akin to a flagtone path, sometimes showing multiple colours side by side.
BROADFLASH
Wide flash of colour that covers the majority of the opal as it is tilted.
ROLLING FLASH
Colour that appears to roll over the opal as the stone is tilted.
A PATTERN FOR EVERY OPAL
There is no single best pattern. Each pattern creates a different look and personality, and beauty is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Pattern is just one part of what makes an opal special, alongside body tone, brightness, colour and size.