Opal: The Mesmerizing Rainbow Color Gemstone
Opal is a unique gemstone known for its captivating play-of-color, displaying flashes of rainbow-like hues. This October birthstone is treasured for its ethereal beauty, making it a popular choice for those seeking a vibrant and mystical gemstone for custom jewelry.
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What is Opal?
Opal is a hydrated silica mineral formed in water-rich environments, often within cracks or cavities in rocks. Its most distinguishing feature is its play-of-color, where light diffracts through microscopic silica spheres inside the stone, creating an array of colors. Opal comes in many varieties, including white, black, and fire opal, each with its unique characteristics. On the Mohs scale, it has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5, making it softer than many other gemstones, requiring extra care to avoid scratches.
Why Choose It for Your Custom Design?
- Opals are unique and iridescent: Their play-of-color gives them a one-of-a-kind visual appeal, making each stone unique. They also come in a variety of types and colors, suitable for various styles and tastes such as fire Opal, Austrian Opal, and Theopian Opal
- They represent luck and protection: In many cultures, opal was seen as a talisman of good fortune and protection. It was believed to protect the wearer from harm and even shield them from disease. Opals can symbolize hope, purity, and truth, making them an especially meaningful choice for those born in October. They are good for both Libra and Scorpio, enhancing their unique traits and bringing positivity and balance.
What to Consider When Purchasing
- The intensity, brightness, and variety of colors significantly impact value. Look for stones that show vibrant colors from multiple angles. Black opals tend to display the most dramatic play-of-color, while white ones are more subdued.
The base color of opals ranges from black to white, and the stone can be translucent or opaque. Black opals are the rarest and most valuable due to the stark contrast they create with their play-of-color. Transparent or translucent opals (like crystal opals) often display colors more vividly, whereas cloudy or opaque stones may have a muted appearance.
Its relative softness means that it can chip or scratch more easily than harder gemstones like sapphire or diamond. This makes them opals to scratches, cracks, or fractures. It’s best to choose protective settings, such as bezel settings, which surround the stone and provide extra security, particularly for rings.
Larger stones with intense color are highly prized, but smaller ones can offer an affordable option without sacrificing beauty. Opals are often cut into cabochon shapes, where a smooth, rounded surface highlights their play-of-color.
Prolonged exposure to dry conditions can cause opals to lose water and become brittle, potentially leading to cracks or "crazing." They contain a small percentage of water within their structure (3% to 21%), making them sensitive to changes in humidity.
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Be aware of Doublets and Triplets disguised as natural Opal when purchasing:
- Opal Doublets consist of a thin slice of precious opal that is adhered to a backing material, usually made from black potch (a common opal with no play-of-color) or another sturdy material. This enhances the stone's appearance, mimicking the look of a solid black opal while offering a more affordable price.
- Opal Triplets add a third layer: a transparent material, such as quartz, is placed over the opal slice to protect it from damage. These are even more durable than doublets, but may not have the same value as solid opals.
- Here at Kris Averi, we only use high-quality opals and never Doublets or Triplets opals unless requested.
Interesting Facts
- Opal is deeply tied to Australian Aboriginal mythology. One legend suggests that the Creator came down to Earth on a rainbow, and where his foot touched the ground, the stones transformed into vibrant opals, capturing the colors of the rainbow.
- Australian opals are among the finest in the world, and nearly 95% of the world's opals come from Australia, particularly from regions like Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge.
- The Romans revered opal and called it the “Cupid Stone,” believing it symbolized hope and love. They valued it for containing the colors of all other gemstones, making it the most precious and versatile stone.
- In medieval Europe, opal was considered a symbol of purity and truth . It was believed to have protective powers, such as making the wearer invisible, and was often referred to as a “ stone of prophecy ” due to its mystical appearance.
- In Arabian folklore, opals were believed to have fallen from the sky during lightning storms, which explains the brilliant flashes of color within the stone.
Our Recommendation for Opal in Custom Jewelry Designs
Unmatched Play-of-Color : Opal’s mesmerizing flashes of color, known as play-of-color, are completely unique to each stone. This natural phenomenon makes every opal one-of-a-kind, offering a personalized touch that no other gemstone can replicate. The richness of color and diversity in opal’s patterns bring unparalleled uniqueness to any jewelry piece.
Special Care Required : To preserve the longevity of opal jewelry, it’s essential to practice careful maintenance. Opals should be kept away from harsh chemicals, excessive moisture, and direct heat. Proper storage and handling can ensure your opal jewelry stays beautiful for years to come.
Opals are a stunning gemstone, known for their refined and one-of-a-kind play-of-color, however they do require extra care due to their delicate and sensitive nature.
We suggest Rainbow Moonstone as a slightly more durable option with a similarly unique range of colors.
The Kris Averi Promise
We welcome you just as you are, in your authentic and unique expression of love.
We believe love knows no bounds, limitations, or exceptions. It is all inclusive, and so are we. Here at Kris Averi, we are committed to standing behind all love, always.
We look forward to helping you make your dreams come true.
