Opal
Opals are the only gemstone that doesn’t have a principal base color which they can easily be associated with. When somebody ask you what color opals are, the answer is far complicated than just merely stating a single color, for it is certainly not.
Opals are known for their multicolored display of colors. True, they cannot be related to one color unlike other gemstones that have a specific color which they are best known of. Depending on the lighting conditions and varied aspects, they can reflect a rainbow of colors. For this astounding reason, the opal gem is considered as one of the most fabled gem not to mention one of the most fascinating. A lot of ancient stories surround the origin and reason for its being, although most of them are mere fictional in nature, what is known to be a fact is the opal’s unbelievable color play which gives the stone its unparalleled splendor.
One Australian legend says that God came down from heaven walking on top of a rainbow to bring peace to all of us. At the very point that he step foot on the ground, he left a colorful footprint that became alive and initiated a sparkling shine representing all the colors of the rainbow, thus the birth of the opals. Yes, this story might be nothing but mere fiction but it can somehow represent the true message that the opal gems wanted to convey, the message of peace.
Some people say that the ability of the opal mineral to change its color reflects a person’s ever changing mood and emotions. Opal is referred to as the gem of both fire and water for it readily display both these powerful element in its natural appearance. This phenomenon is referred to as color play. This happens when certain lights reflect through the gem or when the opal is viewed at different angles. Although not all opals possess such feature but most of them are, and the richer the play of colors are, the higher the price they command. The ones which naturally possess such incredible feature is termed by gemologist as precious, whereas the others which do not display a colorful spectrum are known as common which unfortunately have little or no value at all.
Australia is the main producer of opals. In fact, 95 percent of all the commercialized varieties are Australian opals which are mined from the remote and dry outback deserts. The remaining five percent of opal supplies are distributed amongst Brazil, Mexico, and U.S.A, but just recently there were traces of opals found in Mali and Ethiopia. The history of Australian opals started million years back when certain regions of Australia were still covered with sea water and the sediments were deposited along the shoreline.
Opals contain a huge percentage if water due to its origin usually around 2 to 6 percent and sometimes even more. That’s why one precaution of this gem when they are turned into opal jewelry is to never expose it to too much heat or sunlight otherwise it will show traces of fissures or cracks. In addition to becoming brittle, they also develop their loss of iridescence and their play of colors become paler. That’s why they require regular oiling to keep the moisture locked in; others even soak theirs to water to regain its brilliance.
The powerful display of colors featured by these gems may be one characteristic that enthusiasts prefer. But there are more to opals than their ability to change colors, for they are also known to keep a positive surrounding and lighten up the mood for the wearer. Striking contrasts of colors exemplify the fascinating world of opals, an experience of something diverse and always anew.