One of October’s birthstones, opals have gotten some bump raps over the years. We thought we’d take a moment to help dispel some superstitions surrounding these beautiful, yet often thought of as mysterious, gemstones.

That Unusual Opal Appearance
Opals range from translucent white to grey, orange, yellow, red, green, blue—just about every color you can name. No two opals are exactly alike, and colors often seem to “flash” due to tiny bits of moisture and silica that becomes trapped within the stones. Most of the world’s opals come from Australia, from a large area of the country with the kind of porous, moisture-holding rock that is part of the formation of the stone.

Throughout History
Witches were supposedly said to use black opals to increase their magical powers. Wearers at one point were thought to even have been provided invisibility when wearing opals. There have been a lot of positive connotations attributed to these beautiful gemstones including:

• Queen Victoria was apparently a lover of opals, wearing them throughout her long reign of 64 years, (lots of good luck!) a length of time surpassed only by her great-great granddaughter Elizabeth who still wears the crown.
• The Caesars of ancient Rome gave their wives opals as gifts. It was believed that the gemstones were token of hope, talismans that brought good fortune.
• William Shakespeare called the opal the “queen of gems” in his play Twelfth Night
• The opal represents happiness, luck, optimism and creativity

Caring for Your Opals
Opals are more delicate than many other gemstones, so they need to be treated gently. We recommend not submerging your opals, and, instead, buffing them with a moistened (warm, soapy water) microfiber cloth or soft toothbrush. We do not recommend the use of ultrasonic cleaning equipment which could crack the stones. More tips? Here’s what the Gem Institute of America (GIA) suggests. Best yet, bring your valued piece to David Craig Jewelers for a safe and professional cleaning, and to remove small scratches and dullness. David is one of the country’s leading authorities on gemstones!