Hungarian Opal: Hungary was the best-known source for opal prior to its discovery in Australia in 1849.
Illusion Setting: A diamond or gemstone set in a reflective collet-type head to enhance the apparent size of a stone.
Czechoslovakia - "Hungarian Opals" - part of Hungary prior to W.W.II. One of the earliest source, now worked out. White Opal only.
U.S. - most important area is in northern Nevada (Virgin Valley); opal here replaces petrified wood in volcanic ash.
Dating as far back as to Roman times these mines produced stones historically attributed as Hungarian opals due to the overlapping of borders during that time period.
Early comparison with Hungarian Opals
One of the first Overviews (1898)
First finds of New South Wales Opals (1893) ...
Digging for opals was easy despite the water shortages, and the light opal was of very high quality and found a ready market in Europe, far surpassing the quality of the Hungarian opal.
Opaline - a term formerly used by jewelers to denote Australian opal when it came on the market to distinguish it from the Hungarian opal.
 See also: Water, Jewel, Cut, Stone, Color
  
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