Opal

Opal is an iridescent gemstone created form the mineral silica. The brilliant colour-display of opals makes it probably one of the most spectacular gemstones, where a single gem might shine in all colours of the rainbow, from green and yellow to red and purples and blues, and at the same time change colour depending on the light shining on it.

Pliny the Elder wrote of opal that “Of all precious stones, it is opal that presents the greatest difficulties of description, it displaying at once the piercing fire of ruby, the purple brilliancy of amethyst, and the sea-green of emerald, the whole blended together and refulgent with a brightness that is quite incredible.” Because of this, opals have also been highly valued by their owners simply because it’s one of the few gemstones in which one can be guaranteed a completely unique piece of jewellery, as each opal is truly one-of-a-kind.

As opposed to other gemstones which usually consist of molecules ordered in structured crystalline formations making them quite hard and rigid, opal is amorphous, meaning it lacks this structure and in fact opals contain a significant proportion of water. Opal is because of this a very fragile gemstone (5.5-6 on Mohs scale) which must be cared for much more attentively than other gemstones, and it should avoid contact with soaps and detergents and any acids or chemicals, as this might destroy the stone.

Due to their magnificent colours opals have often been credited with supernatural origins, where the Bedouins believed opal contained lightning and fell from the sky during thunderstorms.

Opal has been cherished as a gemstone from ancient times, being highly sought by kings, queens and emperors. Pliny the Elder tells the story of the Roman senator Nonius, who owned a ring with a particularly beautiful hazelnut-sized opal, valued at two million sesterce (about £2 million/$2.5 million according to Fernie), coveted by Emperor Mark Anthony. When Nonius refused to sell the opal to Mark Anthony, Nonius was proscribed (condemned to death or banishment) and when he fled he only took the opal with him. Opal was supposedly also the favourite gemstone of Queen Victoria, who gifted a collection of rare opals to each of heir daughters on their wedding day.

In the middle ages, in terms of healing properties, opal might have been considered the most beneficial of all the gemstones, because it was believed opal would take on all the virtues of all the coloured gemstones represented by its colour-play.

Opal was believed would bring success and ability to foresee the future, but only as long as the powers of the gemstone was used for virtuous and altruistic ends. Furthermore, it would make the wearer level-headed, give clarity and improve memory. According to Marbode it was even believed that opal would improve the sight of the wearer while cloud the sight of everyone else, believing that opal could grant invisibility.

To the Romans opal allegedly symbolised love and hope, and during the middle ages it has also been associated with purity and truth.

Opal is the October birthstone and the zodiacal birthstone of Libra.

Historically worn for: wealth, wisdom, health, success, spirituality.