Contraluz opal is sometimes the first words a new opal buyer
will hear when asking about opals.
It is one of those words like harlequin pattern that
everyone in the opal world talks about.
Contra Luz in Spanish means “against the light”. This type
of opal is famous due to its diffracted play of colors that is unlike other
valuable opal. It is a glass like opal in that the light can pass through the
stone.
ContraLuz is known as the rainbow within the opal when it is
backlit. Only a small percentage of opal can show this effect.
ContraLuz opal is mostly from Mexico and has worlds
reputation as opal fire colors in this beautiful opal.
Some Ethiopian and Australian opals have been classified as this
type of opal but it is really rare
It is rare to this
type of opal in other countries ,but the most famous one was found in Oregon USA,
and was described the Nebula as a captured Universe o r a Hologram, more than
just a stone.
The Butte opal mine in Oregon has produced some beautiful specimens