The Iridescence of Opal

As the temperature starts to go down, and the leaves begin to change colors we are back once again to discuss the history and lore of another month’s birthstone. This month we are talking about all things Opal.

Opals are the birthstone of those born in the month of October and are often given as a token of love for a couple’s 14th wedding anniversary. It’s name is derived from the Greek word “Opallios,” meaning “to see a change of color.”

The opal actually has a darker history then most other gemstones, being known as the stone of bad luck and evil. Fortunately, this tall tale is just that, a tall tale from history passed down through the generations.

In the 19th century there was a novel written by Sir Walter Scott, in which a lady was falsely accused of being a demoness and actually died after a drop of holy water fell onto her opal and destroyed it’s color.

This story was taken by the public as a warning against the stone thinking it brings bad luck to those who own them. The European opal market would crash shortly after this novel was released, and wouldn’t recover for over 100 years.

Eventually more examples of the gorgeous gemstones were found later down in Australia, where the general public had never heard of Sir Walter Scott, and just like that the Opal was back in the public’s eye as the shining gemstone it truly was.

If you go back even further, long before the times of Sir Walter Scott, to the medieval period those who adorned Opals were seen as strong and therapeutic. The stone was often thought to bring fidelity and assurance to those wearers.

Some even believed at that time that Opals can dramatically increase the owners self esteem and self worth. The stone was also associated with the ideals of love and passion, thought to be an emotional stabilizer to those wearing one.

Opals are defined as a mineral by Webster, noting it’s softer than a quartz and identifiable by its iridescent colors. It’s one gemstone the general public can always identify by its one of a kind hue. This iridescent hue was so desired by those in the Roman empire to be used as jewelry to show signs of wealth.

These unique colors originate during the formation process, scattering light that enters the silica spheres that eventually form the Opal. In today’s world the brighter and more intense colors equate to a higher value for that stone.

Today, the most valuable Opals come from Australia, the main Opal producers since their founding in the 1870’s.

From tall tales of evil and bad luck, to modern obsessions over iridescent colors and hues, the Opal is sure to be the light of someone’s eye. They are without a doubt, one of the most unique gemstones to ever be created.