Opal is the birthstone for October. It is a silica mineral that is found in a spherical formation, and fills petrified organic materials like wood and bone, that are porous.

The fiery quality of opal is called ‘play of color’ and it is formed in what is known as sub-microscopic spheres, as if you are looking into a sink full of soap bubbles in sunlight. The primary source of opal is Australia, which has the most material in the world. There are many types of opal, including white opal from the famous Lightning Ridge Mine, Black opal which is the rarest of them all and the most valuable, and boulder opal, which is formed on the surface of a host rock in thin sheets. Koroite is opal seamed through host rock like threads. There are other types of opal as well, for instance the dramatic glow of fire opal, and the soft colors of Peruvian blue and pink. Some of the most famous mines are found in Cooper Pedy which produces some of the most exceptional material found in the world.

The Romans felt that opal was the most precious of all gemstones, and the Bedouins believed that opal was formed in a thunderstorm and fell from the sky like lightning.  There are many names for this precious gemstone, like Pandora, Light of the World and our favorite, Empress. Pliny stated that carrying a piece of opal was like having a painting on your person.

There are certainly many legends about the supernatural powers that opal exhibited. The Greeks thought opal gave the owner the gift of an oracle, and was described in Europe as offering the owner purity and hope.

There is some superstition that only someone born in October should wear the opal gemstone, but most often opals are thought of as bringing the wearer the best of luck. We believe this as well.  We have many beautiful opal options for you to shop in our inventory!