OCTOBER 2007
Community Paper
copyright ©2007 by Community Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE - OPAL!
by Phyllis Stewart-Tuell, Gemologist, Stewart Jewelry
2212 Edgewater Drive, 407-425-1496
See this month's ad!




Opal miners throughout the centuries have lived a hard life, due to the extreme conditions to obtain this unique stone. It has been noted that the Roman scholar, Pliny, called the opal “cupid paederos” (child beautiful as love), and revered it as the symbol of hope and purity. The Arabs believed that opals fell from heaven in flashes of lightning and thus acquired their marvelous colors. The Empress Josephine owned a gem that was called “The Burning of Troy,” because of its dazzling play of colors. In the 19th century, a superstition was started that opal was an unlucky stone if worn by someone that was not born in the month of October. This was temporary and opals were gradually given by public figures as gifts.

Opals may be classified in several ways. The most logical for jeweler’s purposes considers basically the background color and transparency of gem varieties. The basic types have a number of terms used to designate the dominance of various characteristics.

The first classified major types are: White Opal, Black Opal, Transparent Opal and Common Opal. The ideal stone is semi-translucent, with the play of color consisting of individual patches of colors varying in hue. The most important source throughout the world is Australia. Other major sources are Hungary, Mexico and the United States.

So you will know the difference in the stones before your next purchase, let us show you fine opals from Australia with a black background; semi-translucent with a play of color and explain opal doublets.