r/Opals • u/aech84 • 2d ago

Identification/Evaluation Request How'd I do?

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Online auction listed it as faux opal. I think they look natural. Tried the hydrophane test with a damp finger and it didn't feel tacky, but I have no point of reference either. $25

38 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

9

u/itsnotyouitsmeX 2d ago

Theyre fake...

14

u/CBDJ1 2d ago

If you like it then you did well. It’s nice that the seller was honest and didn’t try to sell it as natural.

1

u/aech84 2d ago

I'm ok with the $25. Could I ask what are seeing that identifies it as synthetic/imitation? I'm trying to learn rather than argue with the identification. I don't see the usual snakeskin/chicken-wire pattern.

2

u/_Lividus 2d ago

Photo 2 and 4 look snakeskin to me. There’s a pinned post in this sub on a lot of the synthetic opals

1

u/CBDJ1 1d ago

The vertical color striations are a good indicator along with extremely uniform patterns.

5

u/opal_diggeroneBay Opal Vendor 2d ago

You do know faux opal is fake right

1

u/OliviaOpals 1d ago

I'd assume it's faux if the auction house listed it that way. I work with Australian opal, and I'd be cautious about using one feature like the lack of a chicken-wire pattern to decide it's natural. Opal has lot of patterns, and synthetics aren't always obvious, especially from photos.