October Birthstone-Opal
Opal is the birthstone for October and for the 14th Wedding Anniversary and what a beautiful gemstone. Opal is Australia’s National Gemstone; it is highly prized by many and is extremely valuable in monitory terms. Opal is best described as amorphous silica, a solidified jelly that has no crystal structure. It generally contains up to 13% water. Precious opal reflects light with a play of brilliant colours across the visible spectrum red being the most valued. These colours flash and change as the stone is viewed from different directions. There are three types of opal mined in Australia and they are White Opal, Boulder Opal and Black Opal
Opals can be find in a few locations around Australia including Lightning Ridge – where you find Black Opal (NSW), Coober Pedy – where you find White Opal, Andamooka, Mintabie (SA), Opalton, Yowah – where you find Bolder Opal (QLD).
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Mystical Power – Opal
It is believed that Black Opal is an extremely lucky stone. Black Opals set in a gold necklace and worn near the heart will protect one from the evil eye and protect Travellers on long journeys.
In medieval times it was believed that Opal had healing properties. Fire Opal was said to heal eye disease. Black Opal was believed to heal reproductive organs, spleen and pancreas disease, it also was said to filter red corpuscles’ and aids white corpuscles’. White Opal was believed to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain for neuro disorders.
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Looking after Opal
Opals are brittle gemstones due to the amount of water within their structure and are subject to cracking if exposed to sudden or extreme changes in temperature or humidity. Loss of water causes loss of iridescence; therefore, oiling the stone will reduce water loss. You should also avoid contact with detergents which tend to dry out the water within the opal.
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October Birthstone – White Opal
October Birthstone – Bolder Opal
October Birthstone – Transparent Opal
October Birthstone – Small Black Opal
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Click here to view the birthstone chart.
