Play of color info in gemsociety.org
Color Effects in gems
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Play of Color and Contra Luz Opal
The term "play of color," also known as "POC," "flash," "iridescence" or "fire," it the ability to "flash" alternating colors as the stone is rotated.
play of color The iridescent effect in opal.
precious An archaic term used to describe certain hues in topaz.
primary When referring to hue, the dominant hue in a gemstone; a pinkish red gem has a red primary hue.
Play of color is seen as shifting patches of spectral colors on the gem's surface and/or in its the interior. This phenomenon is caused by the unique ultrastructure of the opal.
Play of Color: This is flashes of rainbow colors in opal that change with the angle of observation. Play of color is caused by diffraction of light.
Play of Color
Prismatic flashes of color seen within a gemstone. The color display in Opal.
Play of Color - Opal displays a burst of striking colors known as play of color. As the stone is moved, the appearance changes and a different display of rainbow-like colors can be seen from different angles.
Play of color
The "play of color" is also critical in the valuing opal. The intensity of the play of color and the extent to which it covers the opal's surface are the two important factors to consider.
PLAY OF COLOR - Variety of prismatic colors seen in rapid succession. A phenomenon seen in opal, fire agate, and other similar stones caused by the interference and diffraction of light.
Play of color in metallic hues.
Lapidary
A craftsperson who cuts and polishes gemstones.
The play of colors seen in opal is caused by the diffraction of light from regularly arranged transparent spherical particles of cristobalite, an amorphous silica, and the voids between these particles.
The play of color in the stone is called Schiller or Labradorescence and includes all the shades of the spectrum including rich peacock blue, bright aqua, golden yellow, reddish orange, greens and red.
Spinel ...
The play of color in a gemstone resulting from inclusions.
Karat
Unit of measurement that indicates the quantity of fine gold in a piece of jewelry. This is always based on pure 24-karat gold, eg.
This "play of color" is one of opal's signature characteristics. The gem is found in a range of hues, including white opal (the most common); black opal; "boulder" opal (black opal with iron oxide); crystal or water opal, which is transparent; ...
Opal's play of color is created by internal diffraction: tiny silica spheres in grids break up the light into spectral colors, much like the tiny grooves on CDs that shimmer with iridescence.
Iridescence - the play of colors due to surface or internal interference. Labradorite exhibits internal iridescence whereas hematite and sphalerite often show the surface effect.
Iridescence
The play of color in a gemstone resulting from inclusions or layers of minerals.
Karat
Unit of measurement that indicates the quantity of fine gemstone specimens and minerals like diamonds or opals.
The most striking quality of the precious opal is its rich play of color; it diffracts light at various wavelengths, creating multiple colors. The common opal, on the other hand, has a lesser play of colors.
It may be orange, yellow, colorless, or red, but the material that shows a play of color, or "schiller," is the most popular for use in jewelry. Found in Labrador (Canada), Finland, Norway, and the former USSR.
It really possesses the qualities of all other stones - the greatest hardness, an unsurpassed brilliancy, an unrivaled beauty - due to its play of color and its fire - an unexcelled durability and extreme rarity.
Opal is a gem valued for its play of color, the shifting light showing through from its depths. The intensity of that play of color is the chief factor in evaluating a gem for purchase.
Choosing An Opal -Within each opal variety, the brilliance of the play of color is the most important value factor. After this consideration, the colors seen and the pattern of the colors will also influence value.
Virgin Valley opal is comparable to any in the world for its vivid play of color and in terms of the size of material available. Individual pieces weighing over 3 kilograms have been recovered from the Virgin Valley deposits.
Schiller (from the German term for play of colors or glitter) is an iridescent or bronze-like luster occuring in some minerals (it is also referred to as labradorescence when it occurs in feldspars).
In determining value, the brilliance and pattern of the play of color on an opal are very important. Generally speaking, opal with an abundance of red fire is the most highly prized.
Although opal is rarely enhanced by methods other than cutting and polishing, opals can be treated to bring out their play of color.
Crystal Opal - transparent to translucent, having no body color but strong play of color.
White Opal - translucent to opaque, with white body color and play-of-color. Once referred to as "Hungarian Opal".
Gem opals are those with a play of color and/or transparent orange varieties.
It shows the desired play of color, but only when light is transmitted through the stone. It appears to be clear when viewed from the same side.
With its dazzling intensity and complex play of color, Tanzanite boasts a uniquely sensuous appeal. Tanzanite's rarity and exotic origin are also part of its fascination.
The delicious play of colors gives tourmaline its name - from the Singalese 'tura mali' - stone of many colors.
Blue-green with an azotic coating treatment that creates a rainbow play of colors. This is a patented (U.S. Patent #5,853,826) process of Azotic Coating Technology, Inc. and produces this variety they call "Mystic Fire Topaz".
provide a nondestructive means for identifying gemstones and are responsible for all the features one immediately observes and admires including color, luster, brilliance, scintillation, and dispersion, as well as special phenomena, play of colors, ...
It is known for a brilliant play of color and exhibits lustrous metallic tints of blue, green, yellow, red, gold, and purple. On Mohs' scale of hardness, labradorite is 6 to 6.5. It has a vitreous luster.
They allow light to both enter a diamond and reflect off its surface at different angles, creating the wonderful play of color and light for which diamonds are famous. The table below shows all the facets on a round brilliant cut diamond.
Opal contains up to thirty percent water. This, plus its ever-changing play of colors (called opalescence), give it the ability to mirror and magnify one's emotions. Different kinds of opal have varying effects on the emotions.
Iridescence: The play of colors seen within a gemstone as a result of inclusions interfering with light entering the stone.
The beauty of this pendant lies in its play of color and shapes. A round pink sapphire followed by a yellow princess sapphire and finally a blue pear sapphire all aligned in perfect symmetry looks dazzling and bright demanding loads of attention due ...
In addition to making otherwise unusable material useful, the dark backing enhances the play of color, and the quartz top adds to durability. Opal doublets and triplets must still be protected against heat and liquids.
Hyacinth opal (also known as girasol) is a yellow or orange type of precious opal. In this opal, the play of colors seems to come from within the stone, like a floating light, and seems to follow the light source.
Iridescence
Reflection of light off internal features in a gem, giving rise to a rainbow like play of colors.
Jewelry Frequently Asked Questions
How can I test pearls and care for them?
An amorphous mineral, popular in gemstones when it exhibits some play of color
Opaque
Lacking transparency, impervious to light ...
It contains tiny irridescent opal spheres that cause a play of colors as a result of diffraction of light. It is one of the most valuable varieties, it was discovered in Australia at the Lightning Ridge mine.
Opalescence, Opalescent - Showing an internal play of colors or iridescence. (Opal)
Opaque - Not allowing the transmission of any light through a mineral.
Oxides - Minerals containing a metal and oxygen as the main components.
Girasol (which means sunflower in Spanish) is a yellow or orange type of precious opal. Girasol is also known as hyacinth opal. In girasol, the play of colors seems to come from within the stone, like a floating light, ...
In such cases, the lively play of colors caused by the inclusions is described as "jardin" - the French word for "garden" - and is regarded as proof of the genuineness of the stone.
Opal can be confused with glasses and some plastics. Labradorite feldspar and ammolite can be confused for opal due to their play of color.
Treatments
Fracture filling, synthetics.
It is formed from the mineralized remains of an upper Cretaceous fossil called the Ammonite Placenticeras. No two gems will exhibit the same luminous pattern and play of color.
The Common Opal, also known as Potch, shows no play of color and is usually opaque. The Agate, Angel skin, Hyalite, Hydrophane, Porcelain, Moss, Girasol, Prase, and Wax opals fall into this category.
Hardness:7
Color: All colors ...
Reflection of light off internal features in a gem, giving rise to a rainbow like play of colors.
Ironstone ...
Ammolite is sold in four grades according to its color and brilliance.
AA - exhibits three or more brilliant sharp colors.
A+ - a stone that displays two or three bright colors.
A - exhibits two or more play of colors.
Facet: The smooth, flat faces on the surface of a diamond. They allow light to both enter a diamond and reflect off its surface at different angles, creating the wonderful play of color and light for which diamonds are famous.
Ammonite plays a key role in the traditional culture and magicof many tribals. Ammonites displaying one or more distinct colors or play of colors are graded A, while in B grades, colors are less distinct or they may show directional color.
Etymology: Latin opalus, from Greek opallios, from Sanskrit upala stone, jewel
: a mineral that is a hydrated amorphous silica softer and less dense than quartz and typically with definite and often marked iridescent play of colors ...
The reddish and orange - colored stones known as fire - opal have pronounced color and only slight milkiness ; they display the customary opalescence in certain directions. If an opal lacks the typical play of colors, it is called ‘ ...
The principal on which this separation of light depends is known as diffraction and cannot be explained here, but a similar effect takes place when light falls on the naturally ruled surface of a pearl and helps produce the play of colors known as ...
 See also: Color, Stone, Jewel, Crystal, Gemstone
  
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