The Most Expensive Pattern of Opal

Harlequin Opal is a variety of Precious Opal in which the play of color is arranged in a vivid harlequin, diamond-shaped, or rectangular-shaped pattern.

This is an extremely rare pattern. Some stones may contain just a small part of the opal in this pattern but the pattern needs to encase the whole stone not just one part in order to be called a true Harlequin Opal.

This pattern has been unique to black opals from Lightning Ridge and red fire is by far the most rare. Black Opal with a body tone of N1 with this pattern can be worth around $5,000 to $30,000 per carat on the opal fields.

The Most Expensive Pattern of Opal. Peacock harlequin Opal. Photo: Opal Auctions

The pattern is caused by the presence of silica spheres, which are arranged in a regular grid. The spheres reflect light in different directions, creating the illusion of movement and depth. Harlequin opal is often found in black or dark gray matrix, and it can be found in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Barry O’Leary’s (Opal author) definition of a Harlequin opals is ”precious opal showing a regular mosaic-like chromatic pattern in rounded, angular, or roughly square patches of about equal size presenting a spangled appearance.

Harlequin Opal: The Most Expensive Pattern of Opal

Harlequin Black Opal. Photo: Black Opal Direct

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