Opal

    Opal is the birthstone for October and represents the 14th and 18th wedding anniversaries.  Opals are symbolic of faithfulness, love, hope, and happiness.  The brilliantly-colored opal is said to have magical powers because of its play with different colors.  It is said the opal turns pale in the presence of poison.

    Over 100 million years ago, Central Australia was covered by an inland sea and sediment saturated with silica surrounded the shoreline.  After the sea receded to become the Artesian basin, natural conditions released the silica into the cracks of rocks, layers in the clay, and fossils.  Opals formed in these cracks make the opal one of the few gemstones to form in sedimentary rock.  Even today opals contain 6-19 percent water, leftovers of the sea from which it was created.

    There are fundamentally three types of opal: precious opal (containing flashes of fire), the yellow-reddish fire opal (named after its color), and common opal (sometimes called "potch").

    Common opal is rarely transparent, but may be colored or contain inclusions.  Fire opal is named for its fiery red color, not the flashes from within.  It runs from a deep red to many shades of orange and even into yellow.  It may have a few flashes of fire, but it's sought after for its color and clarity.  Precious opal is classified by its background color, its particular colors and intensity of color display, and its size.  Stones that are predominantly white or light blue are the most common.  Those that contain reds, oranges, and violets are considered more desirable.  Black opal is the rarest and most desired of all opals.  it contains a predominantly dark background ranging from dark gray to bluish-black.  When it contains reds and oranges, it brings an even higher value.

    Australia supplies most of the world's opals.  The very best black opal came from Lightening Ridge and most fire opals come from Mexico.  Opal hardness rates a 5 to a 6.5 on the Mohs scale.  Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or steamer on the stone.  Do not apply heat to opals; a change in color or cracking may occur.

Return to Our Product

Our Company | Our Services | Product | Locations