October Opals
The birthstone for October is the opal.
In addition to being a birthstone for October, opals are also given for a 14th wedding anniversary.
How & where -
Opals are created when water containing silica deposits finds its way underground into the openings between layers of rock. When the water evaporates, a solid deposit of silica—a compound of silicon and oxygen—is left behind.These silica deposits are what forms into an opal.
When opals were first mined commercially in Australia in the mid-19th century, the country quickly became the primary—and most productive—source for the gem. They specialise in black opals. Deposits found in Ethiopia are mostly white, yellow, orange, in Mexico; yellow, orange, reddish-orange, Other deposits have been found in Brazil Central Europe, Honduras, Indonesia, and the United States.
Meanings and beliefs -
They are believed to symbolise faithfulness and confidence, and were worn to ward off the evil eye.
One writer gave the opal a bad reputation as being unlucky: In 1829 the novel “Anne of Geierstein,” by Sir Walter Scott, Anne wore a golden clasp containing an opal that changed colours when she was animated or agitated. Sir Walter Scott succeeded in destroying the European opal market for almost 50 years with really, no real merit whatsoever. Within months of the novel being published, the opal market crashed and prices were down 50%!
Numerous other writers including Pliny the Elder, have not agreed with him, and have compared the dramatic play of colour to fireworks, galaxies, and volcanoes, calling the opal the most magical of all gemstones.
They are mentioned in history and folk tales many times, Nomadic Arab tribes for example believed the opal fell to Earth during thunderstorms and held lightning inside, what a wonderful image that is!
Romans believed it was the most precious and powerful gem and a symbol of love, referred to as the Cupid Stone. The Ancient Greeks believed it held the future and the gift of prophecy.
Care of your opal -
With a only 5.5 to 6.5 Mohs Hardness rating, opals are susceptible to scratching and are thought more suitable for wearing on special occasions rather than every day. At the same time, the versatility and beauty of opal jewellery is worth the extra care needed to clean it and keep it safe. To prevent damage, store opal jewellery away from other gems that will scratch it.The safest way to clean this October birthstone is briefly with warm, soapy water. Other cleaning methods might damage the opal or any filler material that might have been used in the creating process.
The fabulous opals pictured in this article are all currently available from us here at Almagrove Jewellers. Follow this link to all our available opals -