Sep 15, 2024 · Opal Stone Facts and Information. For thousands of years, people have mined and treasured opals. These striking stones are the traditional October birthstone and have inspired a rich body of folklore. (So rich, in fact, opal gems have been considered both the luckiest and unluckiest stones you can wear).

For gemstone use, most opal is cut and polished to form a cabochon. "Natural" opal refers to polished stones consisting wholly of precious opal. Opals too thin to produce a "natural" opal may be combined with other materials to form "composite" gems.

Apr 11, 2019 · Opal is a mineraloid or crystalline form of silica. It is colorless when pure. The Precious forms of Opal occur in a wide variety of colors, including white, yellow, red, orange, green, black, and blue. Raw stones have a waxy, dull luster that polishes to a vibrant shine.

Mar 5, 2025 · Opal is a fascinating mineral known for its unique play of colors and diversity. There are many types of opal, each with distinct characteristics that make them special. For example, boulder opal, hyalite, and fire opal are all unique forms of this mineral.

Aug 11, 2021 · Opals are one of the most unique gemstones in the world, known for their unique iridescent, fire-like appearance. For centuries, people believed opals contained other stones inside of a single gem. Why? Because of the radiating patterns and color combinations.

Discover a stunning collection of loose opals, including Natural Polished Opals. Shop Loose Ethiopian Opal, Loose Australian Opal, Loose Black Opal, and more for custom jewelry. Explore Opal Gemstones, Opal Cabochons, and Gem-Quality Opals perfect for your designs.

Mar 22, 2023 · There are many different kinds of opal out there, far more than most people realize. Each has its own individual charm, whether it’s the colorful common opal found in the deserts of Nevada or the incredibly beautiful black opal that comes from the Lightning Ridge area in …

Opal enhances cosmic consciousness and stimulates flashes of intuition and insight, yet is a protective stone for deep inner work, meditations, and lower world shamanic journeys. Opal is most known for its ability to bring one’s traits and characteristics to the surface for examination and transformation.

Opal is an October birthstone. Grids of silica spheres 0.2 microns in size create red play-of-color flashes. Opal contains up to 20% water trapped in its silica structure. The novel “ Anne of Geierstein ” gave opal a reputation of being unlucky.

Oct 1, 2024 · With is scintillating play of colour and range of hues, Opal is one of the most beautiful stones ever discovered. Its fascinating history stretches back thousands of years and brings us right up until the present day, with significant deposits of the gem still being made around the globe.