OPAL: APRIL'S BIRTHSTONE

Opal gemstone origin dates ages ago, histories tell us that Opal is a marvelously beautiful gemstone and, for the most part, a carrier of mystic powers. The word "Opal" comes from the Greek "to see a color change," and indeed, the name reflects the special optical characteristics of the stone.

The opal was the most amuletic stone among the ancient ones, notably in Rome, as it embodied good hope and purity. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder spoke very highly of the opal crystal for its depiction of a kaleidoscope of colors, hence referring to it as the "gem of all gems."

They believed that opals in medieval times were protected. That is the reason why talismans against evil spirits were worn by people in earlier times and are regarded as manifestations of good luck. However, superstitions during the 19th century made them less popular and their demand for the gemstone was reduced.

Late in the 19th century and early in the 20th several important deposits were discovered in Australia, and interest in opal stone was again reawakened. Today it is treasured for its wonderful play of color and cut into a wide variety of fine jewelry forms.

Opal gemstone is among the most exotic of all gemstones owing to the great range of beautiful visual appearances that it can take. The most characteristic visual properties of opal are:

• Opalescence: The opal's play of color is, by far, the most outstanding attribute. It describes the way the colors of the gem look like a spread of a spectrum when it is in motion or viewed at an angular position. In this respect, the structure of the opal inwards causes a diffracting action on light.
• Color: Opal crystal shows an array of colors—deep reds, flashing oranges, across cool blues and greens. The color may be in patches on the surface of the opal, may uniformly cover the entire stone, or may precisely outline areas of play-of-color caused by internal structure. This stone is often compared to Moonstone and Labradorite. 
• Transparency and Opacity: Opal stone may exhibit any degree of transparency to opacity. Play-of-color, in a spectacular manner, is best displayed by the precious opals within the bounds of almost translucent to opaque. Common opal is often entirely opaque, with a resultant play-of-color.

Opal gemstone has some special features that describe it compared to the other stones. Some of them are listed below:

• Hardness: Opal rates between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale and is hence considered relatively soft compared to other stones. As such, it would easily scratch or get damaged were it not taken care of well.  
• Composition: The chemical composition of Opal crystal is hydrous silica, SiO₂·nH₂O; that is, water is present in the structure along with other constituents. Water content in the mineral provides play-of-color.
• Formation: One of the open spaces that hydrophane opal occupies is between particles of most kinds of rocks. It may be an evaporite formed when silica-rich water gets evaporated in the layers of silica. Over very long periods, this internal play-of-color is what makes opal so attractive.
• Types: There are several types of opal stones; among them are beautiful Ethiopian Opal, Fire Opal, Boulder Opal, White Opal, and many more.

Opal gemstone occurs in various parts of the world; the significant deposits are generally obtained in many countries:

• Australia: The country of Australia is the biggest and most significant provider of opal crystal; however, the source is found around the areas of Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, and Andamooka. Opals of Australian origin are renowned for their great display of play of color together with their quality.
• Ethiopia: Over the last few years, Ethiopia has been a good contributor to the current opal resources in the world, especially near the localities of Wollo and Yita Ridge. In Ethiopia, opals are recorded many times with striking colors and patterns.
• Mexico: The opals from Mexico are mostly orange to red, with play-of-color dramatically. This fantastic material has come from the states of Querétaro and Hidalgo.
• United States: In the USA, deposits of opal stone can be identified in Nevada and Idaho. Here they may not be as flamboyant in colors in comparison to their cousins from Australia or Ethiopia but they find great demand in the market because of their special nature.

Generally, the opal gemstone is associated with October but is a fascinating birthstone for April. The lively play-of-color of opal carries the symbolism of creativity, inspiration, and emotional depth fitting qualities for those born during April. 

For Aries, this opal crystal gives courage to the major adventurous zodiac sign in April and develops their leadership qualities besides bringing balance and emotional clarity. 

The opal stone soothes and can calm the will and pragmatism, therefore heightening them for Taureans. Colorful playgrounds of opal reflect the exuberant energy and multi-dimensional characteristics of people born in April.

Opal gemstone does have several healing properties: emotional, physical, and spiritual.

Emotional Healing 

• It is an emotional healer. Opal gemstone is a stone of emotional expression and creativity. 
• They say that it helps one feel free of inhibitions, grow in confidence, and become aware. 
• This allows for an increase in communication and also allows for the open, truthful flow of emotions.

Physical Healing

• The opal crystal is said to enhance a person's physical health in such a way that the stone enhances the person's immune system and keeps the skin good. 
• In addition, it is a prescription for infections or flare-ups of inflammation, which is said to be strengthened if one works in crystal healing practices.

Spiritually Healing

• Opal stone is, on a spiritual level, a stone that sparks inspiration and is transformational. 
• It enhances mental capabilities in the promotion of personal growth by shifting thoughts with new ideas and outlook. 
• It unites the physical and spiritual worlds and stimulates intellectual and spiritual activity while stabilizing the mind.

Since it is only of medium hardness and has a special structure, the care of the opal gemstone and other soft stones like Topaz and Apatite must be treated with caution to sustain its beauty:

• Keep Away from Strong Chemicals: The opal must not come into contact with strong chemicals, anything surrounding household cleaners, or even perfume and lotion. Sure enough, these kinds of gemstones can easily be destroyed by strong chemicals.
• Protection from Impact: Essentially, opal crystal is a soft type of gemstone, thus requiring protection from scratches and cracks. For this, the impact of it needs to be minimized. Store the opal jewelry either in a soft pouch or in a lined case to avoid getting damaged.
• Water: Opal does have water inside the structure; as such it must never be allowed to dry completely. By the same token never allow the opal to stay submerged in water for long periods or it can crack or lose color play.
• Cleaning: This should be done very gently with warm water, using a soft cloth or soft brush. Never steam clean or use an ultrasonic cleaner on the opal jewelry, as this might cause damage to the stone.
• Routine Care: The Opal stone jewelry is supposed to be taken in routinely for a checkup with a jeweler who will make sure that the setting is secure, and the gemstone does not get damaged.

1. How is opal different from all other gemstones?

Opal gemstone is more individual because the play-of-color is this fantastic appearance of showing every type of color when moved or viewed from any angle; optical effect due to the diffraction of light from the interior structure. This manifestation occurs in no other gem.

2. How will I know if my opal is genuine?

How would one know if an opal was genuine or imitation by observation? By observing the structure of the interior, the play-of-color of the opal stone. The colors in a natural opal would appear to move when rotated-playing-and internally would be somewhat irregular in pattern, of course. Anything more should be done by a qualified gemologist who can apply special equipment to confirm the identity of the stone.

3. How do I care for my opal jewelry?

Do not expose your jewelry to harsh chemicals, impact, or long exposure to moisture. Separately clean the stone with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. Store the opal crystal in a soft pouch or lined box to avoid scratches.