Opal - THE October BIRTHSTONE

Known for its multiple colors, Opal is the birthstone for October. The stunning display of colors that the stone gives, makes it one of the most beautiful gemstones in this day and age.

The stone derives its name from the Greek word “opallios,” which means “alter”, thanks to the changing colors with which opals are marked. From darker to lighter shades, from black to Mexican fire opals there is a wide variety of these gemstones in the market.

However, the darker the gem and the more colors it has, the rarer and more valuable it becomes.

It is believed that wearing this stone can bring immense good luck in the life of the wearer. It is also said to increase the faith of the wearer.

Special types of Opal stones

While there is a wide range of colors that Opals are known for, there are some special types of Opals that have gained prominence across the world. Here is a brief description of some of them:

·       Black Opal – One of the most popular Opals in the world, Black Opal comes in basic colors like dark blue, dark green, dark gray or dark gray black

·       Bolder Opal – When an Opal comes with a matrix bolder, it results into this amazing gem

·       Fire Opal – Fire Opal is a fiery orange color Opal gem which comes with an iridescence effect

·       Girasol – While this is an almost colorless variety of Opal, it does come with a subtle bluish or red hue

·       White Opal – This is a basic Opal stone which comes in white color

Sources of origin

Formed from rain, Opals are found in various parts of the world including Australia, Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, Slovakia, South Africa, the Czech Republic, and the United States.

Properties of the Opal

With a hardness of 6 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, the Opal is a relatively soft stone. It has a refractive index of 1.44 - 1.46.

The wearers of this stone are said to experience increased beauty, love, good luck and prosperity in their lives.

As the stone is believed to increase love and romance in a person’s life, wearing it is beneficial for married couples who want to enhance the levels of affection and passion in their married life.

On the physical front, wearing an Opal can help in giving a boost to an individual’s immunity. It also assists in improving the levels of energy and the body’s metabolism rate. In fact, many cultures believe that wearing this gem can aid in weight loss to a great extent.

For artists, this gem is a real blessing as it is believed that Opal has the powers to make one creative. Thus, be it a musician, a painter or a writer, wearing this gem can help them all in a great way by increasing their creativity.

Opal Color

Opal gemstone is known for its gorgeous color effect, which gives a bit of rainbow-like appearance.

A black opal usually contains shades of dark green, blue, purple along with flickers of other bright colors. Due to their dark shades and stunning color display, black opals are in great demand and come at high prices. Unlike a black opal, a white opal displays less color play.

Opals that consist of microscopic silica are called “precious opals,” and those which don’t have microscopic silica are called “common opals.”

How to care for your Opal gemstone?

When gemstones get proper care and attention of their users, they tend to last long, and Opal stone is no exception. Just like other gemstones, Opal also lasts for a long time if it is given proper care. As this stone contains water, it should not get too dry. Thus, an Opal should be kept away from places that may tend to dry or crack it.