Opal Gemstone — A Kaleidoscope of Colors

 

If you are a lover of colors, the opal may be your gemstone. It’s famous for its spectacular colors like flashes of lightning in a rainbow.

Captured by Colors

Precious opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the black opals are the most rare, and the white and greens are the most common.

 

The ‘precious opal’ has an internal structure of spheres that makes it diffract light to take on many colors like a rainbow. Many find the unique play of colors for each gemstone to be both lovely and fascinating.

 

Besides the gemstone varieties that show a play of rainbow color, there are other kinds of opals. They include the ‘common opal’ in milky colors as well as the ‘fire opal’ in vivid red, orange or yellow.

How It’s Formed

 

Opal was formed many millions of years ago, when a combination of silica and water flowed into cracks and spaces in the ground. The material slowly hardened and solidified to become opal.

A Fragile Gem

 

Opals contain water, which makes them very sensitive to heat. They are soft and can be cracked or chipped easily. Opals should be stored in moist absorbent cotton.

Meaning of Opal

 

In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the benefits of each gemstone color represented in the many colors within an opal.

 

Today, this gemstone is said to promote the energies of healing, love, money, and luck.

 

The opal is also the birthstone for the month of October.

 

Uses in Jewelry

 

Opals are widely popular in jewelry. They make beautiful pendants, rings, and strung bead jewelry.

DIY or Have It Custom Made

 

You can make your own jewelry with opal gemstones. They’re available online at Ny6Designs Beads and Jewelry Supply and at the store at 1023 S. Greenville Ave., Allen, TX.

 

Don’t know how to make jewelry? No worries. You may want to take a class or inquire about our custom-made jewelry service. Phone 214-509-6700.