O
OPAL
Name: Opal comes from the Sanskrit word “upala” meaning “jewel”. The later Greek word for opal, “opallios” means “to see a change in color”.
Color: Opal is a form of silica and is a mineraloid with two broad classes, precious and common. Precious opal gets its play-of-color (iridescence) from its internal structure and results in flashes of colors that can be blue, green, purple, yellow, red, orange and the background color may be white, gray, black, or nearly any color of the spectrum. Common opal does not have iridescence. Opals can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. Black opal is considered the rarest of the colors of opal, whereas the white, gray, and green opals are most common. Today, the most sought-after color of Opal is the black opal.
Doublets & Triplets: Opal doublets and triplets enhance the appearance and perceived value of a thin or lighter piece of opal by amplifying its play-of-color. Both the doublet and triplet are made by bonding a thin layer of precious opal to a dark backing material, which is usually black potch or ironstone. The triplet has an additional protective layer of clear quartz or glass bonded on top of the precious opal layer.
Moh’s Hardness: 5 to 6.5.
Location Found: Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Mexico, Honduras, and the United States of America (California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana).
Birthstone: October (15th century).
Wedding Anniversaries: 14th .
Zodiac Signs: Libra, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Chakra Associations: Crown.
Historical Associations: lightning; joyful tears; the Creator; Quetzalcoatl; love; hope; purity; good luck; good fortune; prophecy; purity; truth; hope; banish evil; reveal the true nature and character of the individual wearing it; happiness; innocence; joy; inspiration; carefree; emotionally expressive.
Fire Opal Historical Associations: fostered creativity and beginnings; bring about necessary destruction.
Historically Used To Treat: disease; eye issues; digestive issues; skin issues; emotional trauma; fever; infections; headaches; insomnia.
Misinformation: The first accounts of opals being “bad luck” came from the 1800s through two works of fiction, Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 fiction novel, “Anne of Geierstein,” where they were first introduced as “bad luck charms”, and again in Charles Dickens’ 1874 fiction novel, “The Opal Ring” where he reiterated that opals were “bad luck charms”. From these two fictional sources the rumor took on a life of its own and became a fact. The common misconception that opals are “bad luck” is still prominent in the collective mindset.
Care: Avoid extreme temperatures and/or sudden temperature changes. Do not expose an opal to chemicals or acids. Clean with mild soap and water and a soft brush or cloth. Store in a soft pouch, or box, away from other jewelry that can scratch or damage the stone.