October's Birthstone: Opal

     Opal is mined primarily in Brazil, Australia, and Mexico. Gems are readily available to customers, although larger sizes and finer qualities are increasingly harder to come by. White opal is the most common, and its trademark is the optical phenomenon known as play-of-color. These flashes of rainbow color are caused by the way light diffracts from the opal’s internal structure. Other varieties of opal include black opals, which are found only in Australia; and fire opals, which are usually from Mexico, and are a translucent red to orange color.

     Today, opals symbolize hope, innocence, and purity. However, in the past, it has had a reputation for bad luck. This legend dates back to the early kings of England, when opal was selected as the perfect gift for an October-born princess. To keep the gem exclusive, it became an offense punishable by beheading for anyone not born in October to posses an opal!

     Most opals are not faceted, but cut into round or free-form cabochons that enhance their play of color. The gem is rated at 5½ to 6½ on Moh’s scale, making them relatively soft and prone to scratching. They must be handled with care and kept from dramatic temperature changes.

Simon Golub
14k White Gold
7mm Cushion Opal
0.04ctw Round Diamonds
$550