Top 10 | Most Beautiful and Fascinating Opals Around the World
Andrew Pidor・11 minutes read
Opals have been revered throughout history for their beauty and symbolism, with various cultures attributing supernatural powers and origins to the gemstone. Despite some superstitions, opals are widely considered symbols of hope, purity, and luck, especially noble opals with their rainbow modulations and color play.
Insights
- Opals have been revered throughout history for their symbolic meanings, with various cultures attributing supernatural powers and associations of love, hope, and protection to these gemstones.
- Australian opals, particularly the rare black opals from Lightning Ridge, are highly prized for their stunning red colors and unique harlequin patterns, making them some of the most sought-after and valuable gemstones in the world.
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Recent questions
What are opals compared to by writers?
Volcanoes, galaxies, fireworks
What did opals symbolize in ancient Rome?
Love and hope
What supernatural origins and powers are associated with opals?
Gift of prophecy, protection against disease
What do Europeans consider opals to symbolize?
Hope, purity, truth
What is the superstition surrounding opals as birthstones?
Unlucky for those born in other months
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Summary
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Opals: Gems of Myth, Magic, and Beauty
- Opals have been compared to volcanoes, galaxies, and fireworks by writers, with admirers giving them poetic names like Pandora, Light of the World, and Empress.
- In ancient Rome, opals symbolized love and hope, with the Romans calling them "Opalis," synonymous with precious stones.
- Opal has been credited with supernatural origins and powers in many cultures, with Arabic legends saying it falls from the heavens with flashes of lightning, and the ancient Greeks believing it gave owners the gift of prophecy and protection against disease.
- Europeans have long viewed opals as symbols of hope, purity, and truth, considering them the luckiest and most magical of all gems due to their ability to display all colors.
- Opal is an October birthstone, with a superstition from a 19th-century novel suggesting it's unlucky for those born in other months to wear opals, contrary to historical beliefs.
- Opal lacks a crystal structure and ranks low on the hardness scale, but its opalescence effect, caused by light refraction on silica particles, creates a beautiful dance of colors with every movement.
- Noble opals, experiencing rainbow modulations, are considered precious stones and are highly valued for their color play.
- Different types of natural opals include Ethiopian, matrix, and harlequin opals, each with unique characteristics and values in the jewelry market.
- Australian opals account for 95% of the world's supply, with the rarest being black opals from Lightning Ridge, known for their stunning red colors and harlequin patterns.
