What is Opal?

What is Opal?

Opal is known for its association as a birthstone for people born in October and a precious gemstone. This multi-colored gemstone can captivate who happens to glimpse at it catching them within the kaleidoscope of its colors. Did you know each opal has a unique color combination which is why they are so valuable and precious? Each gemstone has a one-of-a-kind color combination, which is why it is Australia’s national and official gemstone. They claimed the best of the best.

Even though there are conspiracy theories of its negative association with bad luck, that hasn’t stopped people from wanting to get jewelry with opal gemstones in it.

So what is the opal, and why is it so unique?

A Crash Course to Knowing About Opal

Opal is considered as an amorphous form of silica now that may sound like a mouthful. So let us break it down a bit. Amorphous refers to having a clear shape and form, which is visible by how smooth and defined the shape of an opal gemstone is. At the same time, silica is a hard, colorless and unreactive compound that usually occurs as mineral quartz and as a main element of a sandstone.

So armed with that information, it is no surprise that opal is believed to be similar chemically to quartz. However, it does have up to 21% of water within its mineral formation. But not all opals that are found are worthy of getting the label of a ‘gemstone’. For opal to be considered a gemstone, it must have between 6 to 10% of water in its mineral structure, which differs from the generic requirement of having 3 to 21% water.

Opal is classified as a mineraloid because naturally occurring opal is, after all, a sedimentary stone. Now for those who don’t know what it is, sedimentary stones are usually formed from pieces of living organisms that died centuries ago. So it is kind of like a precious fossil fuel that you get as a gemstone. The opal (Amazon ASIN #B08PNYXKCJ) that you see as a gemstone will always diffract light giving you a unique color combination reflecting its internal structure. At the same time, the common category of opal will not be giving you any kind of color.

So opal can seem quite difficult to understand. Its mineral structure, water content, and light reflection capabilities are quite valuable, but why is it now popular?

Why is Opal so Popular?

Opal was never popular; it became popular when used in jewelry which added a unique taste and color scheme to anyone who glanced at it. Apart from traditional jewelry that used precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum, opal gives an energetic and lively vibe when added to any jewelry piece. Not to mention, for centuries, opal has been associated with royalty and as a charm of good luck.

Astrology also has a key role in the rise of opal because people who believe in Zodiac signs and the effect of birthstones on their daily lives tend to go for Opal, especially if they are born in October. It was only 1912 that opal was considered as October’s birthstone. Some believe it is no longer supposed to be a birthstone because of modern phenomena where it is considered as an omen of bad luck.

Despite that fact, opal still gained popularity even from a negative perspective where people began identifying black opal as the bringer of negativity. Due to which people looked for other color combinations of opal.

The Value of Opal

Opal’s value increased when it became a symbol due to its inclusion in the jewelry industry.  However, the gemstone has been historically valued for many reasons. People believe it could cure optic ailments and eye diseases. Some also believed it could make the person who carried it invisible, granting them a superpower. If they carried it wrapped in a bay leaf, that would only occur, preventing anyone from seeing the carrier. Because of this, today is valued for its mythic powers of having granted its user invisibility which, let’s be honest, all of us crave from time to time.

Australian opal is the most valuable and sought after because the country produces nearly 95% of the world’s opal supply.

But opal also has a social aspect to it.

Why is Opal a Stone of Bad Omen?

From a stone revered for its healing properties and good luck to a stone in modern times that is believed to be a carrier of bad luck and is incessantly avoided. Why is opal suddenly a stone of bad omen? Black is a color that many people associate with darkness and evil. The same fate befalls black opal that is believed to harness dark magic, which magicians can use for not so good purposes through their arcane workings.

In Sir Walter Scott’s novel titled ‘Anne of Geierstein’ released in 1829, the grandmother of Lady Hermoine, the main character, possesses magical powers. This grandmother would sometimes become invisible, almost as if she was just a soul with no body. The defining feature of this grandmother was the golden clasp containing the gemstone opal that seemed to change colors according to her mood. The story shows her turn to ashes 2 hours after drops of Holy Waterfall on her during her daughter’s christening.

We all know that Holy Water has been believed to get rid of night creatures and destroy evilness which is probably why opal has such a misfortunate fate.

Our Final Thoughts

So the next time you see someone wearing a piece of opal jewelry, do not just blindly believe in a storybook’s plot but appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Nature for creating a gemstone. After all, not every cut of this gemstone is the same because of its unique color combinations. Take our word and invest in red opal; it is one of the rarest and most sought after gemstone in the opal category.