Opal stones, so much to love!

The internal structure of precious opal makes it diffract light and so it can take on many colors. There is always so much more than meets the eye with opals, they have an amazing display of colours with mesmerizing patterns. It is actually formed when rain seeps down into crevasses in the rock and once the water evaporates, the silica that is left behind dries out and hardens into precious opal.

In Europe it was a gem prized by royalty, which might be because opal was considered a good-luck-charm as it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal. The British Queen Victoria’s favorite gemstone was Opal. She had Sapphires, Rubies and Diamonds but fell in love with the intoxicating colours of Opals. We totally get it, there is so much charm in these stones.

“Some opal carry such a play within them that they equal the deepest and richest colors of painters. Others…simulate the flaming fire of burning sulphur and even the bright blaze of burning oil.” -roman scholar in 75AD

Martian Opal

A lot of the opals were found in Australia (it's their national gemstone) and Ethiopia, but it's also to be found in Nevada, Mexico, Hungary and Turkey. The strangest place they found opal? Mars! It is one of only a handful of gemstones that have ever been discovered outside of our planet.

For gemstone use, most opal is cut and polished to form a cabochon. Opals that are too thin may be combined with other materials. An opal doublet consists of a relatively thin layer of precious opal, backed by a layer of dark-colored material, most commonly ironstone, dark or black common opal or onyx.

Patronus

Opal is the birthstone for October. It symbolizes purity and hope and has been regarded as a protective stone, as it keeps the wearer from harm. Australian native Aborigines say that opal is the creator’s footprint, that touched the Earth at the base of a rainbow to bring harmony.

Another weird fact: opal was thought to make a person invisible whenever they wished it, and for that reason, it was called Patronus forum (patron of thieves). Let us tell you, it does not work. Besides that, Opal has always been associated with love, desire and passion. It is said to intensify emotional states and release inhibitions. It could also act as an emotional stabilizer. Wearing an opal is said to bring about loyalty and faithfulness. All that in a stone!