Opal - 180340

Bursting with life and vitality, the dazzling, hypnotic play-of-color that is opal inspires its moniker, Queen of All Gems, as it captures a rainbow in one stone.

The ancient naturalist known as Pliny the Elder, during the first century A.D., described opal as containing the glories of the most precious gems—the gentle fire of ruby, the rich purple of amethyst, the deep blue of sapphire, and the sea-green of emerald, all shining together in an indescribable union.

Throughout history this chameleon gem has symbolized good fortune and was believed to inspire love and creativity, enhance self-confidence, and ease navigating life changes. October’s birthstone, opal is a gem of positive transformation, revealing the colorful attributes of those who wear it. Magical, mysterious, and lively opal is captivating new admirers with its variety. 

“The major fashion houses in Paris have really been pushing opal in recent years, influencing designers worldwide to design with the most alluring gem on the planet,” hails Andrew Cody of Cody Opal, Melbourne, Australia. “There are no boundaries in working with opal. You can look into it and see a beautiful landscape. Each stone has a mystery that encourages curiosity.”

About 95% of the world’s opal is mined in Australia, with black opal from New South Wales, boulder opal (boulder matrix, opal nuts) from Queensland, and light opal (crystal, white, jelly) from South Australia. White opal is also produced in Brazil. Fire and crystal opal is found in Mexico and the United States. And since 2008, Ethiopia is proving to be a boon for the opal market with stable production, mostly white and crystal, a majority of which boasts vivid play-of-color. And, a recent deposit is yielding dark to black opal.