Opal HQ

Opal Is October's Birthstone

If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.

Opal is the birthstone for October and the gemstone given to commemorate a 14th wedding anniversary. The word "opal" for this dynamic gemstone was derived from the Greek word "opallus" which means to see a change in color…because it is, after all, opal's abilty to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light that make it so special. In fact, there are more than a dozen varieties of fiery and iridescent opals.

Opal is a non-crystallized silica, a mineral found near the earth's surface in areas where ancient geothermal hot springs once existed. Romans called the magnificent gemstone "Cupid Paederos," meaning a child as beautiful as love. They believed that opals fell to earth from the heavens in a flash of lightening.

However they arrived in on Earth originally, today opals must be mined from deposits found primarily in Southern Australia, although other sources exist in Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia, and Nevada.
Crown Jewels Opal has symbolized hope, innocence and purity through the ages. During the Middle Ages, fair-haired young women put sapphires in their tresses to protect the lovely blond color of their hair. Physicians ground opals into a powder that was ingested to ward off nightmares.

Since the 14th century, many cultures have considered this stone to be an Eye Stone, a stone that watches over royal families as well as a stone that strengthens the eyesight. They believed it to be the "king of gems" because an opal holds within its fire all the colors of the rainbow…and all other gems, as well. And like many birthstones, opals were treasured by ancient monarchs for their appearance AND their powers.

Opals were routinely set into the crowns and necklaces of rulers who believed the protective powers of the gemstones would ward off evil. Writers of the period believed the opal could render its wearer invisible when the need arose.

The Russians had the complete opposite belief in opals, viewing them as nothing but bad luck..
Always the Right Gift A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness and confidence. And the wide range of choices in opal make them a perfect gift for anyone:

Black Opal - the stone has a dark body tone in comparison to a white opal.
White Opal - also known as 'milky opal', featuring light white body tones
Boulder Opal - very dark and beautiful in color
Crystal Opal - any opal with a transparent or semi-transparent body tone. Forms of crystal opal include black crystal and white crystal.
Fire Opal - an American term meaning any opal that displays a significant amount of red coloring. Mexican fire opal is a different kind of opal, which displays orange coloring)

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The Beauty Of An Opal Bracelet

A day stunning and value to addition to any respectable collection of jewelry is an opal bracelet. Opals are incredibly colorful, but you must know how to properly care for them if you want to maintain that stunning beauty. There are many things to remember about the opal bracelet.

Opals are varied unique because they are cut in a different fashion and other precious gems. When opals are mined, the miners themselves take extraordinary care when handling the beautiful stones. This adds their beauty and their value.

The stones of an opal bracelet are both vibrant and radiant in their color, with a different sort of color combination if they are black opals or white opals. Either the opal is do fantastic things when playing off the light. The color itself radiates from moisture that is trapped within the stone.

The stones of an opal bracelet are polished in such a way that they do do not usually crack for their protection. It for some tragic reason they were to contact the color would slowly fade right out of them and your bracelet with the will no longer.

An opal bracelet can have as few as one opal or as many as twenty, depending on the style and size. Remember to treat your opal with great care because they are rather fragile gems. You should limit your time for wearing an opal bracelet because even the natural oils from your skin can damage them. Wearing the opal bracelet for special occasions and the like is fine, as long as you do not forget you are wearing it.

Nor should they be immersed in any sort of liquids because that also tends to damage the opals. When you are finished wearing your opal bracelet for the evening, it is smart to let it air out and dry.

If the opal somehow does become dirty you want to clean it immediately. To take a toothbrush and cup of water to it might damage it, even though this method works well with other pieces of jewelry.

You also may want to look into specially produced jewelry cleaners that are made specifically to treat the precious gems that are contained in your opal bracelet. If you are worried about cleaning your bracelet, you might want to take it to a professional jewelry maker and ask them about cleaning your bracelet. This way you know it will be cleaned right, without damage done to your bracelet.

Using only a few steps, it is easy to care for your opal bracelet. As long as they remain flawless, you will have a beautiful and valuable heirloom to pass down for hundreds, if not thousands of years to come.

About the Author - Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning fashion. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting gemsandjewelryinfo.com

Welcome to Opal HQ

Opal Jewelry -- Your Own Personal Piece Of Rainbow

Opal is a magnificent gemstone whose shades encompass virtually every hue in the color spectrum. The play of color is different on every stone, and its shimmering hues gave rise to the word ‘opalescent.’ Because it is such an entrancing and unique gemstone, it is no wonder that opal jewelry is very popular among collectors and fashion enthusiasts.

Opal is the birthstone for October and its history is peppered with superstitions and beliefs that it caused both good luck and bad luck. In Europe, it used to be thought of as the ‘official’ stone of thieves and robbers. One of the greatest contributors to the myth that opal jewelry causes misfortune is a misreading of its depiction in Sir Walter Scott’s 19th-century novel ‘Anne of Geierstein.’

However, many cultures associate the opal with white magic and good fortune. The ancient Romans used opal jewelry as talismans and for them, it symbolized purity and hope. The ancient Greeks, on the other hand, believed that it gave the wearer the abilities to prophesy or foretell the future. It was also thought to bring luck to the wearer.

The popularity of opal jewelry is on the rise. Although it is classified as a semi-precious stone, the black opal can cost as much as a diamond. Opals can also range in price, depending on their color. Generally, red opals are the most expensive while blue opals are the least. Also, doublet or triplet opal jewelry, or a piece of opal that is sandwiched between two other materials is less expensive than solid opal pieces. Set in gold or silver, or embellished with other gemstones, there is a wide variety of opal jewelry to choose from.

Men and women throughout time have been fascinated and captured by the iridescent colors of opal jewelry. Bad or good luck notwithstanding, these multi-colored gems are worthy additions to any wardrobe. A person cannot be blamed for thinking that wearing an opal necklace, earrings, bracelet or ring is somehow just like having a piece of the rainbow close to the skin.

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The Mystery Of The Opal

There is no other stone that has the mystery of the opal. With its fiery colors and magnificent spectrum of color it draws you in and you are helpless to look away.

Every opal is different. There are no two stones the same. And every stone reflects the light differently depending on its depth and personal characteristics. This stone eludes a mystical aura without even trying.

Opals are extremely popular for jewelry and it’s not hard to figure out why with that beautiful array of color. Soft and feminine yet fierce and bold.

Opal has the honors of being October’s birthstone. Back to ancient times it has been associated with magical qualities. It was believed to bring both good and bad luck. Some cultures used opals in white magic and believed they brought good fortune. Other cultures considered them a third eye that would allow you to tell the future.

Opals are a semi precious stone but a black opal can cost as much as a diamond. The amount of fire in the opal and where it comes from will determine the price. Pale opals can be purchased quite cheaply but the more fiery or red the more expensive the opal becomes.

Opal jewelry comes in a variety of style and is set in both gold and sterling silver. Sometimes you’ll see triplet or stacked opals, other times they are set solitaire. They also come in a variety of different cuts.

There are several types of opals:

The fire opal is probably the most popular. It is translucent with fiery orange and red flecks. The colors are vivid and intoxicating. This opal is sometimes called the Mexican opal or the Cherry opal.

The white opal is an opaque milky white with light flashes of rainbow colors.

The boulder opal is a natural solid opal with a fine layer of opal deposited on an iron base.

The water or jelly opal is colorless and transparent and has no color play.

The crystal opal is also transparent, but displays a rainbow of color. It is so transparent you can see through it on a light surface.

The Mosaic opal is just what it says. Small irregular pieces of opal tightly fit together. It’s a great way to use chips and is very affordable.

The opal doublet is made of sliced layers of natural opal that is too thin to be used in a single set. It is bonded and set on black glass or ironstone which enhances its color. The doublet opal is much cheaper because you are buying less true opal.

Synthetic opals are created in a lab and although they basically have the same properties as a natural opal by law the jeweler must tell you if it is a synthetic stone.

Contrary to what you hear opals are no more difficult to take care of then other stones. You should not knock or bang them and you should keep them out of direct sunlight or heat.

One thing you need to know is that opals cannot be cleaned in commercial jewelry cleaner or any other harsh chemical solution. Rather use a soft brush and water with a dab of vinegar, then rinse thoroughly.

Water will not hurt your opal unless it is a doublet or triplet then you should not immerse in water. Solid stones are fine. See that’s not so difficult.

So the next time an opal draws you in and wants to go home with you why not add this beautiful mysterious stone to your jewelry collection. Only then will you experience the mystery of the opal.

About the Author - Sher from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit estatejewelryinternational.com