Opal is one of the most beautiful and least understood of all gemstones. The unique flashes of color called fire present in fine opal have intrigued human imaginations since prehistoric times. The tremendous demand for this gemstone lures miners to some of the worlds most inhospitable regions. In the deserts of Lightning Ridge, Australia, for example, miners have dug individual tunnels into the sandstone earth in their quest for precious black and white opal. The tunnels often collapse resulting in scores of miners buried alive. Other key sources for opal are Brazil, Mexico and the Western United States. Opal is a fragile gem, so care should be taken to avoid striking or subjecting the stone to rapid temperature changes. Opals are the only gemstones that you have to "feed." Simple care, can allow your treasure to last several lifetimes. (See care of your opals - in our care for your jewelry information).
The word opal comes from Sanskrit "upala" meaning precious stone. The Greeks believed that opals gave the wearer protection from diseases, a gift of prophecy and foresight, while other cultures believed that opals fell from the sky in flashes of lightning. Many legends describe the stones as sacred, embodying the spirit of truth, honesty and good luck. Sir Walter Scott gave us the superstition that opals mirrored our moods in his novel, "Anne of Geirstein." Opals then began to be labeled as unlucky and evil. The color production of opals was not fully comprehended until in 1965 when an electron microscope penetrated the stone's surface and glimpsed the 3D "diffraction grating," caused by regular open spaces lined with spheres of silica suspended in trapped water. Opal is a sedimentary material. Thus the colors were found to be produced in a manner similar to the spectrum on an oil slick. Remember that each opal is different and unique. It is no wonder it is known as "The Queen of Gems."
One of the many shades of tourmaline that is a substitute gemstone for October is pink. Its name comes from an ancient word, "turmali" which means mixed precious stones. Sometimes called the "Rainbow" gemstone because it comes in all colors and shades of the rainbow.
Over the centuries it has been confused with emeralds, sapphires and rubies in its matching shades of colors. Note: each color of tourmaline does have a separate and specific name. For example: the yellowish green shade is called verdelite. It is supposed to give great sensitivity to the wearer, and is prized for its two or three shades of colors found in the same crystal (called bi or tri-colored). It has no cleavage and thus tourmalines are a durable and strong gemstone for everyday wear. It comes to us from the mines of Brazil, Africa and the United States, especially from the "Mineral State," Maine. It is a very popular modern day selection as the birthstone of October, for all those customers that do not wish to wear opals
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