OPAL

     Opal whose brilliance and vibrant colors resemble the colors of the fall, is certainly appropriate as a birthstone for October, as well as the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 14th year of marriage. The modern name Opal is derived from three ancient sources; the Sanskrit upala , meaning precious stone, the Latin opalus and from the Greek opallios meaning "to see a color change."
     The well-known Roman naturalist Pliny described opal as "made up of the glories of the most precious gems... the gentler fire of the ruby, the rich purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, glittering together..." Until recently, no stone has gotten so much "bad publicity" for bringing bad luck as the Opal. Negativity surrounded the stone because of the ease with which the stone could crack, and if given as a lucky or love stone, the splitting was usually taken as a sign of bad luck. Sir Walter Scott fueled its unlucky reputation with his 1800 novel, "Anne of Geierstein," in which the doomed heroine wore an Opal in her hair.
Today, with the understanding of Opal's water content, gem suppliers and miners reject those Opals that tend to crack. Opal has symbolized hope, innocence and purity through the ages. In the Middle Ages, young, fair-haired girls wore opals in their hair to protect its lovely blond color. Medieval writers believed opal could render its wearer invisible when the need arose. It was also said to have a beneficial effect on eyesight. It was thought to banish evil spirits and favor children, the theater, amusements, friendships and feelings.

     When we try to describe the opal, we realize how insufficient the English language is. It is unique among the gems, displaying an array of very brilliant miniature rainbow effects, all mixed up together. Its most outstanding characteristic is this unusual, intense display of many colors flashing out like mini-rainbows called "play of color". This effect is created by opal's formation process, which is very different from that of other gems. Opal is silicon oxide containing variable amounts of water. The color flashes come from natural hydrated silica spheres that create light interference. The water content in an Opal can be anywhere from 1-21 though usually between 3-13. The arrangement of the spheres, which vary in size and pattern, is responsible for the different colors seen. Opal, when not transparent, is usually cut flat or in cabochon, since there is no additional brilliance to be captured by a good faceting job. Color is everything. The more brilliant the color, the more valuable the gem. It is probably more true of opal than any other stone, that the more beautiful the stone and its color, the more it will cost. White opal has a white or light body color with flashes of many colors. Black opal has a black, dark blue, dark green or gray body color with vivid flashes of color such as red, pink and bright green.

     Care should be taken to protect it from scratches, sharp blows, household chemicals, and extreme temperature changes. Due to its high water content it should never be left near any heat or bright light source (i.e., the sun) and should be removed before doing the dishes! To maintain the brilliance of opal, it should be wiped clean with a soft cloth. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine or steam cleaner.