If you are intrigued to know more about this most beautiful of gemstones, then you are not alone. The opal has been one of our most beloved precious stones for centuries, with its mix of iridescent tones and creamy opaqueness. As well as being the birthstone for October, it has a uniqueness not found in other stones and so is popular with those that want something different when it comes to their jewellery pieces. As it is also associated with good luck, no wonder many people choose to wear it each and every day.
How Opal is Formed
The opal is believed to be a sedimentary stone and is thought to be formed when water seeps through the earth and through cracks in rocks. When the moisture evaporates, it forms what are known as silicates, and it is these that dry out and harden to be become the opal that we know and love. They can come in a whole range of colours and individual blends of tones and patterns. This is what makes jewellery made from the opal so unique, as each individual stone seems to tell its own story. This has been the case going back to early historic times, with the opal getting its name from the Greek word for changing colours, ‘opallios’.
The opal has always had connotations with the mystical. Romans believed that it was a symbol of good luck and hope and it was one of their most precious stones, often given as a gift to people to symbolise fortune and happiness. Despite this, the opal was at one time seen in Europe as being good luck to those who like to live on the wrong side of the law such as thieves, but today it is very symbolic with spiritualism and positivity. It is believed to be full of energy that can absorb bad feelings yet enhance more beneficial ones. As such, many people keep an opal close to them at all times.
Opal Sources
Australia and Ethiopia are major sources of opal mining. In Australia, the opal has been a major source for the world market since the early 1900s, when a 14-year-old boy first came across an opal. The majority of opals are found in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, with the first being synonymous with the white opal and the latter being famous for black opals.
In Ethiopia, opals have been part of life for many years, being used to make tools as far back as 4000BC. However, it is only in recent times that the country has become a major source of opal production, with stones that are bright of fire-like in their colouration. As a result, Ethiopia is fast becoming the world’s second-largest producer of this popular gemstone behind Australia.
What is Lab Opal
An alternative to the mined opal is the lab opal, also known as a synthetic opal. Produced in a way that brings you an opal just as would be found naturally, lab created opals often have a myriad of colours and are often indistinguishable from the real thing. Indeed, synthetic opals can be so similar to naturally derived opals that it is necessary to state how they are made in order to tell the difference. With a price point that is cheaper than an opal found in its natural state, it is a great alternative in the jewellery market, yet as people will always pay for the real deal, it doesn’t replace a mined opal in any way.
Opal Jewellery
If you’re looking to invest in an opal jewellery piece, opal earrings are great choices as they have the ability to be an everyday piece whilst also having that iridescent look that brings a touch of glamour to your evening too. Whether your preferred look is traditional or modern, the opal lends itself brilliantly to a range of designs and will look equally attractive in a stud earring or longer length, dangly style. Whilst opal earrings can be worn as a style statement on their own, jewellery wearers often choose to go ‘all out opal’ by matching their earrings to the necklace to the bracelet too.
Wearing an opal necklace is often a statement look, with whatever your colour choice, the stone having the ability to shine many different tones in different lights. This is unlike any other precious stone and means that the wearing of an opal necklace is sure to have a captivating audience. Opal pendants are a highly popular choice and have been in style for decades. Whether a smaller pendant or one with a larger stone, they standout for all the right reasons. Choosing a blue opal in the summer will reflect the bright mood of the season, whilst creamy white opal is perfect for the cooler winter months.
Opal rings are one of the most popular jewellery choices for the gemstone, especially as they can sit alongside other precious gems without dominating. Bringing a different look to the hand, opal rings are often worn on the right hand, away from the significance of the wedding finger. This allows the wearer to express their jewellery personality and style perfectly. Whilst a singular opal set in precious metal will always be an attention-grabbing look, the opal’s versatility means it can also be themed into different shapes such as those that reflect the sea or animals.
Of course, it is often thought that it is the bracelet that finishes off any jewellery look, and it is probably the item that allows the opal’s brilliance to dominate like no other. The opal’s mix of both subtle and more obvious colours sit delicately against the tone of the skin, and as it is the wrist that is the part of the body we most often see when carrying out our daily lives, an opal bracelet can lift our mood throughout the day as well as really finishing off an outfit choice.
