Opal jewelry

About opal

Opal is a a hydrated form of silica, between 3 and 21 percent water by weight, with play-of-color caused by light diffracting off internal silica spheres rated 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, Opal rates 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the softer gemstones. For context, a steel nail is roughly 6.5, sapphire is 9, and diamond is 10. Opal also contains water, which makes it sensitive to temperature changes and dehydration. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, harsh chemicals, and prolonged dry heat. Clean with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. Ring settings benefit from a protective bezel.. Its color ranges from white or black body color with flashes of every color of the rainbow, an effect called play-of-color, as well as solid orange-red fire opal varieties, with the most prized stones showing even saturation and high clarity.

Opal has captivated cultures for thousands of years, with the Romans calling it cupid paederos, child of love. The name comes from the Latin opalus and the Greek opallios, meaning to see a change in color. Australia produces the vast majority of the world's precious opal, with Lightning Ridge famous for black opal and Coober Pedy for white opal. Ethiopian opal, discovered more recently, has added new color profiles to the market.

Historically, opal has been associated with creativity, emotional expression, and imagination. In crystal healing and metaphysical traditions, opal is associated with the Crown Chakra and creative inspiration. It is linked to emotional honesty, intuition, and bringing hidden qualities to light. Practitioners often use it as a stone for artistic work and self-discovery, themes that align with October's introspective transition into autumn.