Oct 14, 2021

Hello Opal - The other October Birthstone

Did you know that Opal is know as a “phenomenal” stone because it shows a phenomena known as play-of-colou r?

It does not show all colours of the rainbow at once, but rather a combination of blue-green and/or pink.

Are you mesmerised by this unique gem? Then you are in the right place!

Woman's hand holding a light blue velvet ring box with a round opal and diamond halo white gold ring

Let's take a look at some fun facts about this one-of-a-kind gem:

The word opal comes from the Latin word ‘opalus' and means precious stone
The Romans believed that opal was the most precious and powerful of all the gemstones
Opal contains up to 20% water trapped in its silica structure and can dry out over time

Opals are usually fashioned as cabochons, rather than faceted gems. In other words, they have one flat side and one side shaped like a dome. A cabochon cut helps display play-of-colour and is less likely to chip

Woman's hand wearing a round opal and diamond halo white gold ring and pink nails

Source

The majority of opal is currently mined in Australia, that source was discovered in the early 1900s.

Previously, this wonderful gem came from northern Hungary, a territory that is now called Slovakia.

More recent sources of opal were discovered in Ethiopia in 1996 and Brazil in 1999.

Woman's hand wearing a variety of coloured gemstone engagement rings on her index finger, morganite blue-green sapphire, padparadscha sapphire, opal

Availability

White Opal is considered plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Many of my clients are pleasantly surprised by how affordable this gorgeous coloured stone really is.

On the hunt for a unique opal ring?

This stunning vintage-inspired Kira ring is available for purchase from my Ready-to-Wear collection. Featuring a 0.34 carat opal and a touch of natural diamonds, it is a must have this holiday season!

To order this wonderful ring, please get in touch via email: info@tsarinagems.com

a round opal and diamond halo white gold ring on a white silk background

Opal Birthstone

Opal is also known for the following traits:

promotes unconditional love
encourages inner growth
acts as an emotional stabiliser
bridges the gap between your ego-self and your true self

Do you know what powers and qualities your birthstone holds?

Visit my previous post titled Beauty and Power to find out!

Durability

In terms of hardness, opal scores a 5.5 - 6.5 out of 10 on Moh's scale.

Many other gemstones and diamonds can scratch your opal if not stored properly or if they rub against each other.

As opal is considered to be a bit on the soft side, I wouldn't recommend it for an engagement ring. But it makes a great option for "occasional wear" rings and other jewellery such as pendants and earrings.