there is one misunderstanding for the african opal. most of the african opal should not lost its chatoyance when they are in water in the first time. however the chatoyance would gone if the african opal had been produced like 2-3 years, if they did not put in the water, the opal is really easy to get crack; if they put in the water, the opal chatoyace would gone. the Australian opal is better, no matter from the quality and the value in the long run