ALL ABOUT OPAL
Creativity & freedom
Opal is the birthstone for October and takes its name from the word "opalus", which means 'to see a color change'. The white opal consists partly of water that is trapped inside the gemstone, which creates its completely unique play of colors. The pink opal does not have the same reflective quality, but instead has been given a creamy pink hue.
OCTOBER'S BIRTHSTONE
Opal is the birthstone of October along with Tourmaline and is also the birthstone of the zodiac signs Libra & Scorpio. Each month has its very own birthstone, making jewellery set with a birthstone a personal and thoughtful gift.
Wearing your birthstone is said to bring good luck. You can wear your own birthstone as a lucky charm or your loved one's birthstone as a love symbol
SYMBOLISM
Opal is the gemstone for creativity, freedom, self-expression and love. Opal is therefore a gemstone that is perfect for creative expression. Opal is also said to be a love stone - especially the Pink Opal is said to be good for love relationships.
SPIRITUALITY
The opal is most often referred to as a gemstone for enhancement. In the metaphysical realm, Opal acts as a prism within the aura, bringing the full spectrum of Light Energy into the system, calming and purifying the sensitive body and boosting the joy of earthly existence.
Depending on which color Opal you wear, it is connected to different chakras. Our favorite, Pink Opal, has loving and gentle vibrations connected to the heart chakra and promotes peace and emotional healing.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR OPAL JEWELLERY
An opal is a medium-hard gemstone, and is also very porous and absorbs water. Therefore, you must never soak or submerge your Opal jewellery, as this can damage the gemstone. When you need to clean your opal jewellery, use a mild soap in lukewarm water and wipe with a soft cloth.
Remember that you can also have your jewellery professionally cleaned at Carré.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
According to folklore and legend, the opal was believed to have many different mystical properties. In ancient Greece it was believed that the opal gave supernatural powers such as foresight and protection against diseases, while in ancient Rome the opal was used as a symbol of hope and love. In Arab culture, it was believed that the opal was created by a lightning strike.
In the early 1800s, the novel “Anne of Geierstein” gave the opal a reputation for being the bringer of bad luck, as it connected the gemstone to tragedies. However, the opal’s good reputation was partly resurrected by the mid-1800s, as Queen Victoria and her daughters wore notable jewellery set with opals, making the gemstone modern and popular around the globe. Opal’s popularity rose again during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods around the early 1900s when numerous highly detailed pieces of jewellery were once again decorated with opals.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY GIFT
Many gemstones are associated with a special anniversary. Jewellery with opal is given as a gift on the 14th wedding anniversary, which is also called an Ivory wedding. Opal's symbolism and story of love and strengthening of feelings make a piece of jewelry set with opal an extra thoughtful gift for your wedding day.
GEMMOLOGY OF OPAL
Opal is available in many colours. Its color is determined by the temperatures and elements that affect the gemstone as it forms underground. Opal can also have rainbow colored reflections. This is due to water encased in tiny voids within the gemstone. Such opals consist of approx. 20% water. The opal is mainly mined in Australia, but is also found in Brazil, the USA and Mexico, among other places. When measuring the hardness of a gemstone, you use the Mohs Hardness Scale. The scale varies from 1-10, where 10 is the hardest - here lies the diamond, which is the hardest gemstone. Opal lies between 5 and 6.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
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BLUE TOPAZ
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