These changes were accepted and approved by the American Gem Society and the National Retail Jewelers Council. Because its flashing play-of-color can suit many changing moods and tastes, the opal stays in high demand. Opal was originally the gem trades recognized birthstone for October but in 1952 the Jewelry Industry Council suggested that pink tourmaline be an alternate stone to opal. Deposits in the Wollo Province, discovered in 2008, brought vivid play-of-color displays to the opal market.Īustralia’s depleting supplies of classic opal have impacted the price of this uniquely kaleidoscopic gemstone. According to ancient mythology, opal stones descended from the heavens during a bolt of lightning and produce feelings of happiness in their wearers.
OPAL BIRTHSTONE CRACK
Material mined in the Shewa Province in 1994 wasn’t desirable because it was dark and tended to crack easily. Opals are eye-catching for their sheer spectrum of colors, which mirrors a sparkling kaleidoscope. Since then, opal gemstones have gained more popularity through recent discoveries in Ethiopia.
OPAL BIRTHSTONE HOW TO
Valued at $2.5 million in 2005, this gemstone measures 11 inches long and weighs 17,000 carats (7.6 pounds).Īfter scientists discovered the spherical silica structure of opal in the 1960s, they figured out how to create synthetic opal in 1974. The world’s largest and most valuable opal, “Olympic Australis,” came from Coober Pedy, Australia in 1956, during the Olympic Games in Melbourne. The country began producing 95 percent of the world’s opal gemstone supply and many of its finest opal specimens. A few drops of holy water extinguished the stone’s magic fire, though, and the woman soon died.ĭiscoveries of opal deposits in Australia revived opal’s image after 1850. However, that changed in the early 1800s when a story was published about an enchanted princess who wore an opal that changed colors with her moods. During the Middle Ages, opal was thought to bring the wearer luck. In 75 AD, the Roman scholar Pliny compared opals to volcanoes and vibrant paintings, noting that their dancing “play” of rainbow colors could simulate shades of any gemstone.Ĭenturies of legends surround opal gemstones. American Gem Society Titles & Designations.Advanced Personal Property Appraisal Course (APPA).The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising.The History of the Diamond as an Engagement Ring.
20 Water Opal contains up to 20 water trapped in its silica structure. Jewelry pieces included everything from solid gold to plated gold. 0.2 Microns Grids of silica spheres 0.2 microns in size create red play-of-color flashes. Discover our curated collection of opal birthstone jewelry.
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