FREE: Amazing!! 40mm Mexican Blue Opal Cat's Eye Sphere/Crystal Ball Stone

The listing, Amazing!! 40mm Mexican Blue Opal Cat's Eye Sphere/Crystal Ball Stone has ended.

Up for Auction: Amazing!! 40mm Mexican Blue Opal Cat's Eye Sphere/Crystal Ball Stone. (Second and Third pics are without camera flash)

Opal Cat's Eyes display an amazing phenomena known as chatoyancy, also known in the gem trade as “the cat's eye effect”. The reason for this fascinating phenomenon is very fine inclusions within the stone. When a light source is directed on these inclusions it creates a bright strip that appears, running perpendicular to the inclusions. This strip will then glide across the surface of the stone when turned over.
The most important factor to consider when evaluating Opal Cat's Eye is the strength and sharpness of the eye. The eye of the stone must have a fine line running through it that is distinct and easily recognized. In addition to this, the body color and the quality of the play of color exhibited by the stone are also important factors that have a significant effect on value, making pricing quite complex.

~~ History & Lore ~~
Opal is derived from the Latin word 'Upala' and the Greek word 'opallios', both meaning “precious stone”. The name Cat's eye is derived from the phenomena displayed by this stone known as chatoyancy, which in French literally means “cat's eye”.

~The Roman scholar and famous author Pliny once described Opal as a gemstone that combines the best possible characteristics of the most beautiful of gemstones: the fine sparkles of Almandine, the shining purple of Amethyst, the golden yellow of Topaz, and the deep blue of Sapphire, “so that all all colors shine and sparkle together in a beautiful combination.”

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