Opal - A Beautiful Gemstone

Opal is a very beautiful gemstone, used as a lucky charm in some countries, and is an amorphous form of hydrous silica. It was considered as unlucky because of its fragility and tendency to break and scratch easily. Because of the high percentage of water content, it may be damaged by the heat and cold. These gemstones are found in different hues and colors such as black, red yellow and white, and are considered the queen of gemstones. Several varieties of this gemstone are available and each variety is attractive in it own way. The different types include harlequin, common, fire, water, wood and precious. Finest and the most expensive types can be found in Australia where recently, several new deposits have been discovered. Although most of the world's production comes from Australia, the fire variety in particular, are found in Mexico. Other countries such as Honduras, Mexico, former Czechoslovakia and Brazil produce minor amounts of this gemstone. Typically, the stones are found in sandstone or clay stone units.

The harlequin variety provides rich prismatic colors flashing from minute fissures. It is available in many shades such as blue, yellow and red specks and is lucid. The common form of the stone is of dull white or milky blue in color which produces same effect of harlequin type but to limited level because of its opacity. The color of fire opal ranges from hyacinth-red to honey yellow, and shows reflections of intense orange and red fire. It is the only variety which can be faceted. Water opal is colorless and the properties are similar to that of fire variety. The precious form of this stone shows an excellent display of brilliant colors when shown in light and is expensive. Wood opal is the replacement of fossil wood by hydrous silica and is cut with remaining matrix for extra strength. Black stones are the rarest and the most expensive one and the color variations ranges from pitch black to gray.

Because of its fragility, it should be cut thickly. The stone will deteriorate in time, if the cut is finer. The stones should be washed every now and then to remove the traces of perspiration or cosmetics. This stone is a good investment for those who are careful and does not suit to people who are negligent. This gem can be worn with any color outfit and it is generally cut in to a dome shape and set in rings, pins, bracelets, pendants and earrings. It can be also used in combination with ruby, sapphire or emerald to enhance the particular color flashes in the gemstone. A jewelry piece with this gem as the focal bead is often found to be surrounded by small diamonds like other exceptionally colored gems.

It is believed that the possession of this opal earring is good for beauty, power and financial prosperity. It is good for those in business especially for people who are connected with travel and tourism and imports and exports. It should be discarded when it become dull and replace with a new one. Opal is the birthstone for those born in October.