There is no other gemstone that displays flashes of reds, blues, greens, and yellows in a singular source. That is why Opal has been revered ever since it was first discovered! Arabic legend says it was sent from the gods in bolts of lightening. The Greeks believed it gave the wearer the ability to prophecy and protected them from disease, while the Europeans applied a more religious meaning of hope, purity, and truth.
Opal doesn’t have a crystal structure like faceted gemstones which is why it is cut, fashioned, and set into jewelry pieces very differently. Its mineral type is a hydrated silica and contains up to 20% of water. Opal is formed in ancient sea-beds or in places where rain soaked deep into underground rock taking dissolved silica with it. When most of the water dried up, the silica formed opal in cracks and layers between the sedimentary rock. I have seen clam shells and petrified wood that had layers of opal as well!
Play of Color: The rainbow colors flashing through in fine Opal
White or light Opal: Play-of-color against a white or light gray background color, called bodycolor.
Black Opal: Play-of-color against a black or other dark background.
Fire Opal: Brown, yellow, orange, or red bodycolor. This material—which often doesn’t show play-of-color—is also known as “Mexican opal.”
Boulder Opal: Play-of-color against a light to dark background. This is a very thin layer of Opal that is affixed to the original host rock, often called Boulder Opal Doublet because there are two pieces.
One the things I find fascinating is that no two Opals are alike! It is definitely for the person who wants something different that no one else has! I find that each Opal can be like looking into a different universe. I bought my favorite Opal because I knew I would never see another one like it, and I didn’t want it to haunt me the rest of my life as the one that got away.
I would love to help you with you find that perfect Opal piece! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:
One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)
Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)
Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 24 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)
Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.angelacisneros.com/book-appointment