All About October’s Birthstone – Opal

image credit

 
 

"Opal is the birthstone for the month of October, along with pink tourmaline.
 
It is also the stone given to celebrate the 14th year of marriage.
 
The name opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit upala, meaning “precious stone,” and later the Greek derivative “Opallios,” meaning “to see a change of colour.”
 
You may have heard that the opal brings bad luck and is an evil stone.
 
In fact, this has been a ridiculous belief for a long time all over the world.
 
However, those in the know, are aware that this unfortunate reputation and myth actually is the fault of one man, Sir Walter Scott. Sir Walter Scott’s bestselling novel, Anne of Geuerstein, written in 1829, was the story of Lady Hermione, who is falsely accused of being a demoness, and dies shortly after a drop of holy water accidentally falls on her opal and destroys its colour.
 
The public took this to mean that this genius author was warning of the bad luck an opal can bring, so they stopped buying the beautiful gemstone.
 
Sir Walter Scott succeeded in destroying the European opal market for almost 50 years  with really, no real merit whatsoever. Within months of the novel being published, the opal market crashed and prices were down 50%.
 
Thankfully, nearly 50 years later, in 1877, an amazing black opal was found in South Wales, Australia, and the opal market was finally revived. These black opals took the world by storm. The discovery of these opals in Australia led to the decline of European production.
 
Australia is in fact, still the principal source of black and white opal.
 
Many do not realise that the myth of the opal being bad luck is not warranted by any sort of evidence or occurrence, or that the discovery of the black opal destroyed these negative notions over 100 years ago.
 
I am sure you have heard somewhere along the line that opals bring bad luck.
 
We now know this to be untrue, but let’s take a look at why this superstition came into being. The superstition is due to several factors. Actually, opals have been considered very good luck throughout most of their written history, but in much earlier days,when jewellers did not understand how to handle and work the stones properly, the stones would often dry out and break while being cut, polished or mounted.
 
Naturally, this was considered bad luck.
 
Furthermore, in Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein, the main character, Lady Hermione, wore an enchanted opal in her hair. It gave off fiery red flashes when she was angry, and it sparkled beautifully when she was happy.
 
One time when a few drops of holy water were sprinkled on the gem, it lost its fire and sparkle. At the same time, Lady Hermione became ill and was carried to her room and placed in bed. The next day all that was found of her and the gem was a heap of ashes in her bed. Because of this story, opals gained a wide reputation for bad luck.
 
Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III of France, refused to wear the stones, as did many others, some well read and some not so well read. On the other hand, Queen Victoria laughed at the superstition, and as her daughters married, she gave them opals for wedding gifts. The daughters all fared well. In Asia, opal is viewed as a symbol of hope.
 
Opals have a very long history and there are many myths pertaining to the stone.
 
In medieval times, all blond maidens wanted a necklace made of opals, as this was considered an absolute guarantee to prevent their hair from fading or darkening.
 
The opal was also thought to make a person invisible whenever he wished, and for that reason, it was called Patronus forum (patron of thieves).
 
Among the ancients, opal was a symbol of fidelity and assurance, and in later history it became associated with religious emotional prayer. It was believed to have a strong therapeutic value for diseases of the eye, and when worn as an amulet, it would make the wearer immune from disease as well as increase the powers of the eyes and the mind.
 
Furthermore, many believed that to the extent the colours of red and green were seen, the wearer would also enjoy the therapeutic powers of those stones: the power to stop bleeding from the ruby or the power to cure diseases from the emerald.
 
Mystical Powers of Opal *The information provided here is for entertainment and reference purposes only. It is based on centuries of folklore, most of which came the birthstones of your loved ones, or your favourite combination of colours about before the age of modern medicine. It is not meant as actual medical information. For advice about any of the illnesses listed, please visit a qualified physician.
 
Opal amplifies traits, whether those traits are good or bad, and brings characteristics to the surface for transformation. It enhances self worth, confidence and self-esteem, and helps you to understand your full potential. It also brings lightness and spontaneity.
 
The stone is said to help stimulate originality and dynamic creativity, encourages an interest in the arts, and aids in accessing one’s true self. Because the stone is absorbent and reflective, it helps you to pick up thoughts and feelings, amplify them, and return them to their source. It is a karmic stone- it encourages putting out positive emotions and teaches that what you put out comes back to you.
 
The opal is also a representative of justice and harmony, and is a protective stone in dangerous places.
 
Opal has always been associated with love and passion, as well as desire and eroticism.
 
It is a seductive stone that intensifies emotional states and releases inhibitions.
 
It can also act as an emotional stabiliser.
 
Wearing an opal is said to bring about loyalty and faithfulness.
 
Opals have been said to be extremely beneficial in many physical realms as well, such as in treating infections and fevers. It is also said to help strengthen the memory. Furthermore, it purifying blood and kidneys, regulates insulin, eases childbirth, and alleviates PMS. It is also beneficial to the eyes, especially as an elixir. Overall, the stone is said to be the most useful in preventing bad health. It strengthens the immune system and helps the body be resilient to infection.
 
Opal has also been known to help those who are suffering from chemical dependencies. The stone gives the wearer strength and the ability to take back control over their lives.
 
 
Physical Properties and Science of Opal
 
Webster’s defines opal as “…a mineral….that is a hydrated amorphous silica softer and less dense than quartz and typically with definite and often marked iridescent play of colours.” The opal is a stone so distinctive that everyone can identify it, with its many coloured flashing lights. The brilliance and vibrant colours within an opal resemble the colours of fall, so it is an appropriate birthstone for the month of October.
 
Opal is unique among gems, as it displays an array of very brilliant miniature rainbow iridescent effects, all mixed together. These colours were very highly prized in Roman jewellery.
 
The play of colour comes from opal’s formation process, which is different than many gems.
 
The colour comes from the reflection of the scattering of light from the minute, uniformly sized and closely packed silica spheres that make up precious opal. The arrangement of these spheres, which vary in size and pattern, is responsible for the different colours.
 
The more brilliant the colour, or fire, the more valuable the gem.
 
The most familiar opals are nearly opaque white or more translucent white, some having a black or reddish background. All opals vary greatly in their colour of fire.
 
Some have only red and orange lights, some also have green, and some also have yellow and blue lights. Black opals may have all of these colours as well as purple.
 
Opals show just about every shade of every colour in a variety of combinations.
 
Opals with an abundance of red are usually the most expensive.
 
Those strong in blue and green are equally as beautiful, but less rare, so their price is somewhat less. One of the most rare opals is called the Harlequin opal, which displays colour patterns resembling a checkerboard.
 
Opal is a delicate and soft stone, rating a 5.5 to 6.5 on the hardness scale.
 
It is usually milky and translucent. Opal is a hardened silica gel containing 5-20% water.
 
Some opals may crack if allowed to dry out too rapidly after being mined.
 
Opals may be somewhat porous, in which case it is dangerous to immerse it in liquids other than water. Opal is amorphous, meaning, it has no crystal structure.
 
The only other major amorphous gemstone is amber. Good quality opals are transparent, not milky.
 
Imitation opals have been made using Slocum stone, a man-made glass that gives a play of colour. Chips of opal and coloured plastic are also put into hollowed rock crystal, and an imitation opal from Gilson Laboratories uses silica spheres.
 
Opal is formed when silica was liquefied and washed down into fissures in the surrounding rock, where it then solidified into a hardened gel. Unlike most other gemstones, opal is therefore not a crystal, but rather an amorphous solid.
 
Opal is found in fossilised shell, wood and bone.
 
Some precious opal forms in gas cavities in volcanic rocks, as in Mexico, and Slovakia, but most Australian deposits occur in sedimentary rocks. It is not found in many ancient archaeological diggings for a good reason, as the stones do not last for thousands of years.
 
They contain 5-20% water, which dries out over the years, causing them to become brittle and lose their hardness. The fire, or colour, in opals is made by the cracks in it, thus its beauty is also one of its weaknesses, though the cracks are not visible to the naked eye.
 
If the cracks are visible without a magnifying lens, it is not considered to be a fine opal.
 
The most valuable opals come from Queensland and New South Wales in Australia, which have been the main producer of opals since their discovery in the 1870’s.
 
Nowadays, opals are mostly found in Australia, Mexico, the USA, South America, Britain, Canada, Brazil, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
 
Caring for your Opal Jewellery
 
Your opal will last a long time if you take good care of it. You should treat your opal with some care to prevent any scratches or blows.
 
The stones should never be kept in oil or any other chemicals.
 
This may cause them to lose some or all of their fire.
 
Because opals contain some water (as much as 20% water), they should never be stored in a bank or vault for long periods of time because of the dehumidifiers used in many vaults. If opals get too dry, they tend to crack. This phenomenon is called “Crazing,” and it wipes out the value of the stone. You should avoid leaving your opal near anything potentially drying. To keep your opal from drying, it may be helpful to immerse it in water for several hours from time to time.

See more from original source, here...
 

 

"Opal can occur in many colours including white, colourless, pale yellow, pale red, grey, brown and black. Diffraction can cause flashes of any colour of the rainbow which can be seen in opal's colour play.
 
Yellow, blue and green are most common, whereas violet, red and orange are the rarest colours seen through play of colour. Opalescence is usually milky blue in colour, but it can occur in rarer colours. The saturation of body colour, the play of colour and the transparency determine an opal's value.

 
 
Opal Clarity and Luster
 
Opal gemstones can occur transparent to opaque. Transparent to translucent materials are typically more valuable than opaque materials. Almost all opal will have some visible internal fractures or inclusions such as patches, potch (common opal) or matrix rock inclusions. Opal tends to exhibit a waxy to resinous luster which helps accentuate play of colour and opalescence. Finer stones often have a vitreous luster.
 
Opal Cut and Shape
 
Opals are usually cut into shapes which maximise and preserve the weight of the rough opal. They are often cut en cabochon and depending on the opal colour bar, it may be cut with low or high domes in order to maximise play of colour and adularescence. Opal can also be faceted, most often seen with 'fire opal'. Opals can be found in many shapes, including traditional ovals, rounds and cushions, as well as fancy hearts, marquises and trillions. Opal is often carved into ornaments.
 
Opal Treatment
 
Opal is typically untreated, but it may be impregnated with oil, wax, or plastic to enhance colour and stability. It may also be layered (as in opal doublets or triplets) for durability. 'Smoking' treatments are now more common than before. 'Smoking' of opal is done to darken body colour which enhances play of colour, most often seen with Ethiopian opal.
 
There are forms of synthesised opal available. Technically they are 'imitation opal' as they often include substances like plastic, which are not found in natural opal.
 
 
Opal Gemological Properties:
 

 
There are many different varieties of opal with some being extremely rare and valuable. In addition, there are also several unofficial 'marketing' names used for opals based on specific localities, inclusions and other properties. Some of the official and most well-known opal varieties, include rare black opal, chocolate opal, fire opal, boulder opal, opal doublet, opal in matrix, common opal and precious opal.
 
The following lists some of the most well-known opal trade names, with a short description:
 
Agate opal - agate with light and dark opal layers.Angel skin opal - misleading name for palygorskite, an opaque, whitish to pink-colored silicate mineral.Black crystal opal - transparent to semi-transparent opal, with a dark body color and play of color.Black opal - precious opal with near-black to black body color. The rarest and most valuable of all opal.Boulder opal - a thin seam of precious opal on ironstone matrix. Since this is a natural occurrence, its value is higher than that of a man made doublet. The ironstone is very dark, which makes the fire stand out and gives a close resemblance to black opal.Chocolate opal - precious opal with a brown body color. Also one of the rarest and most valuable opals available.
 
Common opal, also called potch, is opaque, rarely translucent and shows no play of color. A wide variety of trade names are used to identify common opals.Crystal opal - transparent to semi-transparent, colorless body with play of color.Fire opal - translucent to transparent, with a yellow, orange or red body color. May or may not have play of color. Also called Mexican opal or sun opal.Girasol - almost colorless, transparent opal with bluish opalescence.Harlequin opal - transparent to translucent precious opal with mosaic-like color patterns. Counted among the most desirable opals.Honey opal - honey-yellow translucent opal.Hyalite - glass opal or water stone, colorless, water-clear opal with strong sheen.Hydrophane - a milk opal, which turns turbid due to loss of water. It can become translucent again and have color play through absorption of water.Jelly opal - bluish-gray precious opal with little play of color.Moss opal - milk opal with dendrites.
 
Opal in Matrix - opal in matrix is similar to boulder opal. Precious opal is dispersed in small fragments throughout the matrix rock, rather than in a seam or even layer.Opal doublets - a thin layer of precious opal glued to a black base.Opal triplets - a thin layer of precious opal glued to a black base with a transparent cap composed of quartz or other similar material, such as synthetic spinel or sapphire.Pink opal - pink opal is delicate, but some opal, such as Peruvian opal, form together with chalcedony, which results in a slightly harder and more durable opal.Porcelain opal - white, opaque milk opal.
 
Prase opal - apple-green opal.Precious opal - displays rainbow-like hues that change with the angle of observation, especially in rounded cut forms.Semi black or gray opal - precious opal with a dark body color.Wax opal - yellow-brown opal with wax-like luster.White opal - precious opal with white or very light body color.Wood opal - yellowish or brownish opal in the form of fossilized wood.Opal Mythology, Metaphysical and Crystal Healing Back to TopThe name opal was probably derived from Sanskrit "upala", meaning "valuable stone" or from the Greek word "opallus" which means to see a change in color.
 
Later, the Latin word "opalus" evolved, meaning precious stone. In the days of Roman antiquity there existed a so-called "opalus", or a "stone from several elements". Pliny the Elder, the famous Roman author, called opal a gemstone which combines the best possible characteristics of the most beautiful of gemstones; the fine sparkle of almandine, the shining purple of amethyst, the golden yellow of topaz, and the deep blue of sapphire, "so that all colours shine and sparkle together in a beautiful combination". According to an old Australian Aboriginal legend, the Creator came down from the heavens on a rainbow and delivered a message of peace for all mankind. Stones that were near the place where His feet touched the ground suddenly came to life and began to sparkle. This was believed to be the birth of opal.
 
For ages people have believed in the healing power of opal. It is reported to be able to solve depression and to help its wearer find true and real love. Opal is also said to stimulate originality and creativity. Opal is porous and because of this, it is quite absorbent. Due to its ability to absorb, it is thought that it can pick up the thoughts and feelings of people and amplify emotions.
 
Disclaimer: Metaphysical and Alternative Crystal Healing Powers and Properties are not to be taken as confirmed advice. Traditional, Ceremonial and Mythological Gemstone Lore is collected from various resources and does not represent the sole opinion of SETT Co., Ltd. This information is not to replace the advice of your doctor. Should you have any medical conditions, please see a licensed medical practitioner. GemSelect does not guarantee any claims or statements of healing or astrological birthstone powers and cannot be held liable under any circumstances.
 
 

Opal Gemstone Jewellery Care and Cleaning
 
Opals are delicate gemstones. Their most significant weakness has to do with their water content. If an opal is allowed to dry, it will crack and fade. If you live in a very dry climate, or keep them in a dehumidified room, some precautions are necessary. Keeping them in a tight plastic bag, with a damp piece of cotton or fabric will prevent dehydration. Because of their water content, opals are also highly sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.
 
Being somewhat soft, opals scratch easily. It is important to realise that a large component of ordinary dust is quartz at 7 (Mohs scale) in hardness. At 5.5 to 6 in hardness, simply wiping the dust off an opal will gradually reduce its polish. The solution is to clean your opals using a soft cloth and only mild soap or detergent if needed. Do not use harsh chemical or cleaners and avoid ultrasonic cleaners and steamers. Always remove opal jewelelry before engaging in vigorous physical activity.

See more from original source, here...
 
We get new pieces of Opal in from time to time and all are unique.  Give us a call: 01592 264305 to see what we have in.
 
Or have a look around our website or just pop in, you'll find us here:

 

The following article All About October’s Birthstone – Opal is available on https://www.akcampbell.co.uk/blog/