Gems of Information: Opal: October Birthstone

The name opal comes from a Latin word that means “cupid stone.” The Romans called it “cupid paederos” which means “child as beautiful as love” and they viewed the opal as the symbol of hope and purity. They also believed that opals would keep the wearer safe from disease. The Arabs believed that opals fell from heaven in flashes of lightning and that was how the opal acquired its marvelous color. There is a great deal of superstition that surrounds the opal. I hear many people comment that wearing an opal, if it is not your birthstone, is bad luck. This, as are all superstitions, is untrue. Opals, however, are a very soft gem and must be worn with great care or else they may be broken easily. To wear opal is definitely worth the extra caution as they make extraordinary pieces of jewelry. Opal rates a 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale (diamond rates a 10) and should not be subjected to sudden temperature changes or harsh chemicals. Opals may dry out over the years and shrink and crack or lose their color. To prolong the life and color of your opal, it should be placed in water and left overnight occasionally. An opal should never be oiled. The beautiful play of color in an opal is due to the water that is “trapped” in the stone. Today you may see opals in the traditional milky white variety but also “Black Opals” and “Boulder Opals” that are formed on granite and give a brilliant color display against a dark background. Or you may see Mexican “Fire Opal”. This opal variety is found in colors that range from yellow to bright orange and do not usually possess the internal “play” of color found in traditional opals. Not only is opal the birthstone for the month of October, it is also the stone for the 8th, 13th and the 14th wedding anniversaries. Today, the principle sources for opal are Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the US. So, when thinking of buying a stone, don’t forget about the opal. It is one of the most beautiful stones in existence today. Cheryl Thompson is the owner of ‘Something Precious Jewelry’.