10 facts about opals you may not know about

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10 facts about opals you may not know about

1. Birthstone

Opal is the official birth stone for the month of October


2. Created from the rain

There is speculation about exactly how Australian opal originated, but many believe it is made up of rainwater seeping into cracks in the rock. As soon as the water starts to evaporate, it leaves behind silica, which, after drying, hardens into an expensive opal.

3. Opal on Mars

Opal was found on Mars! It is one of the few gemstones ever discovered outside of our planet.

4. Ancient opal

Opallios is the Greek word for opals or to see a change in color. The ancient Greeks believed that opals were created from tears of joy. Crying Zeus as he defeated the Titans.

5. Queen of precious stones


The ancient Romans considered opal a symbol of hope and happiness. A Roman scholar summed up the beauty of opal in 75 AD: "Some opals carry such a play of colors that they are equal to the deepest and richest colors of painters. Others said - they simulate burning fire and even bright flames from burning oil. This kaleidoscopic gem included the red color of Ruby , green of the Emerald, yellow of the Topaz, blue of the Sapphire, and purple of the Amethyst, which is why opal is commonly called the queen of precious stones.

6. Australian opal

Australia produces about 95% of the world's opals. Most are white opal from the Coober Pedy area of South Australia.

7. Something from history

The Australian natives say that opal is the clue of our creator when he touched the earth at the beginning of the rainbow and brought harmony.

8. Do opals bring good luck?

Opal is the jewel of happiness. Most civilizations saw opal as a lucky stone. There were some exceptions, including the English writer (1800), who said that opal was unlucky, especially in its marketing. Perhaps he realized that opal was the best gem on earth and he had to discredit it. But this campaign has failed, and now opal is even considered a talisman and a symbol of social status in some countries.

9. Royal opals

Opal was the favorite gemstone for Queen Victoria. She had sapphires, rubies and diamonds from all over the British Empire, but she fell in love with the intoxicating colors of opals.

10. More than it seems at first glance

The color play you see in opal is thanks to millions of tiny balls of silica of various sizes. These balls refract light and cause the beautiful spectral colors you see on opal. The balls must be of the correct size and of a uniform nature to produce sufficient color.

Original: www.opalauctions.com

Books: Opal - The Phenomenal Gemstone, The Opal Story