WAYS TO CUT OPAL

Opal may be cut in a number of way.  The three most common preparations for mounting are Solid, Doublet and Triplet.  The composition of each preparation is described below.  Inlay is a variation on the solid opal cut, the main feature being the absence of the dome.
 
 
Home Cabochon 
If the uncut (rough) opal is significantly thick, most cutters prefer to produce the opal as a solid (en cabochon).
Home Doublet 
A thin veneer of opal may show enhanced color with a dark backing.  This can be achieved by cementing a black or gray silica material or Potch (colorless opal) to the back of the opal layer.
Home Triplet 
A triplet is a variation on the doublet theme.  In this case the opal layer can be much thinner and a quartz lens is cemented to the top surface of the opal.  This serves to protect the opal layer, and magnify and enhance the colors.
Home Inlay 
Inlay opal is very similar to the common solid opal cut in that it is a solid section of opal.  It differs in that the top surface is not shaped into a dome.  This is done to allow the finished top surface to lay level with the surrounding gold or silver frame.