DOUBLETS AND TRIPLETS The prices of attractive black opals, light opals, and boulder opals are inevitably high because of limited availability compared to demand. As a result, assembled pieces called "doublets" and "triplets," made using thin slices of light opal, have been produced since the early 1900s. Such stones are common throughout the world, and the distinction between these and natural opals is often left vague. Doublets are made by applying a black color to one side of a thin piece of light opal and attaching it to a piece of matrix or potch (opal that does not exhibit play-of-color). Triplets are constructed similarly to doublets, with a transparent glass or rock crystal quartz top attached. The beauty depends on the appearance of the slice of light opal. When used as components in accessories, doublets and triplets can effectively bring the beauty of a light opal to a design, but they have no intrinsic value. Boulder Opal When looking from the side (girdle direction) at full-face material, the border between the opal and matrix will usually appear as an uneven line, as shown in the photograph to the left. Face up, matrix will be visible in partial-face boulder opals. Weight : 1.86 ct Size (mm): L 10.8 x W 9.0 x D 2.70 Untreated US $1,000 Opal Doublet Looking from the girdle direction, a straight line separating the opal and base (as shown to the left) identifies a doublet. One must be especially careful when the girdle area is hidden by gold, as in pendants and rings. A stone with a standard shape such as an oval or rectangle is likely a doublet or triplet, since most genuine boulder opals will have an irregular, or free-form, shape.   Opal Triplet Just as in doublets, the border between the opal and the base appears as a straight line when viewed from the girdle direction. The photograph clearly shows a transparent portion attached to the top of the triplet. The top portion appears to be colored, but this is just the color of the opal slice reflecting in the transparent material. Index Back Next