Fall is in full swing for those who celebrate their birthdays in October. The air has a crisp chill and the fall colored leaves create a kaleidoscope of warm colors all-around of orange, yellow, and red. Which makes it fitting that the two birthstones for October are opal and tourmaline, two stones which have the capability of creating a kaleidoscope of colors with in themselves, and the subjects of our latest gem story.
Opal, once believed by the Bedouins, held lightning and fell from the sky during thunderstorms, and by the Greeks to have bestowed the gift of prophesy and protection from disease. Opal is known for a phenomenal display of “Play of Color”, as you tilt and rock the Opal back and forth flashes of color will show throughout the stone. There are many different types of Opal, and each type will show a variety of color light shows for your eye to enjoy. Opals can come in single color form as well, the Mexican Fire opal is a lovely bright Orange Red color, that can be faceted and have a translucency of many other gemstones that you see.
Opal is found in many places Australia being the most productive, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil being significant and important producers as well. Additional deposits have been found in the United States, central Europe, Honduras, Turkey, Indonesia, Peru, and Madagascar.
If you are interested in custom jewelry made with opal, we hope you will visit us soon at our studio in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN.
