White opal, also known as ‘milk’ or ‘milky’ opal, is a precious variety of opal characterized by its light body tone ranging from colorless to white. One of the most enchanting features of white opals is their play-of-color, which is caused by the diffraction of light by the tiny spheres of silica gel that make up the gemstone. The size and arrangement of these spheres determine the colors seen in the opal, leading to a breathtaking display of flashing and dancing spectral colors that can include greens, blues, reds, purples, and oranges.
A prominent fact about white opals is that some of the most famous and prolific deposits come from the fields in South Australia, particularly around the town of Coober Pedy, which is often referred to as the ‘Opal Capital of the World’. Unlike black opals, which are rarer and found mainly in Lightning Ridge, white opals are more abundant and therefore more accessible to a broader range of jewelry lovers and collectors.
