Opal - Its Fascinating History and Healing Power

 The name Opal is derived from the Greek name "opallios" and from the Sanskrit "upala", meaning "Precious Stone". It is different from most precious gems because of its non-crystalline crystal system, or amorphous, in nature. Opal is allochromatic and comes in a variety of colors, the most valued being black. Other forms include white (milk opal), red (fire opal), or colorless (water opal). The most striking features of precious opal are the sheen effects it exhibits when turned in the light, known as "play of color". This is caused by minute spheres of silica that reflect and diffract white light. This effect is known as "opalescence". Smaller spheres produce only blues and greens, whereas larger ones produce the whole spectrum. Black opals highlight play of color most dramatically. Opals look very good in simple jewelry settings and look particularly attractive, when they are set in rings.

Identification:

Green Opal has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 and specific gravity of 2.1 to 2.2 and has a low density. It is transparent to opaque, has a vitreous, greasy, dull, or waxy luster, and leaves a white streak. It is singly refractive, and it is porous. In this case, it is dangerous to immerse it in any liquids other than water.

Occurrence:

One area of former Czechoslovakia formerly belonging to Hungary has been mining Opal since Roman times and was the only source of noble Opal to Europeans. In modern times, most opals are coming from Australia where the finest quality opals are found. Other sources are mainly Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, United States and Iceland.

Varieties:

There are few varieties, but mainly there are 3 varieties that are most popular in gem business are follows: White Precious Opal, Black Precious Opal and Fire Opal and also called common opal. Each one has its own distinctive colors and characteristics.

Value:

An opal's value depends on its body color, play of color, and soundness. There is no comparison between the value of noble opal and that of fire opal, which is quite inexpensive even compared with other minor gems. It is worth somewhat more when a few splashes of color are visible inside the stone. It is valued by collectors as a curiosity but is little used in jewelry. A black opal, free from flaws and with a uniform pattern made up of bright clear colors, including red, may be worth more per carat than diamond. Common opals do not exhibit play of color and, as a result, are valueless.

History and Healing Uses:

Opals were adored by the ancient Romans; used as an eye tonic in the Middle Ages; celebrated by Shakespeare; and were a favorite gemstone of Queen Victoria. The most common and popular background is milk white, it is called White Precious Opal. The stone can be used to enhance psychic awareness as well as energizing all levels and areas of the body, because of the rainbow of colors that is contained with it.

Simulants and Synthetics:

It was long considered impossible to imitate opal. In recent years, however, an imitation, which, at first sight, looks deceptively similar to opal, has appeared on the market. It is called "Slocum Stone" after its inventor. A plastic imitation has also recently come onto the market and it is very similar to natural opal, being composed of microscopic spheres, like opal. White opal has been manufactured synthetically by the French Company for nearly a decade.