Opal: October's Birthstone

History

Opals have a long history of being cherished for their unique and colorful shimmer. Arabic legends claim that opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightening. The ancient Greeks believed opals to give their wearers the gift of prophecy and guard them from disease, while in Europe they were seen as symbols of hope, purity, and truth. Our word for opal comes from the Latin “opalus,” which means “precious stone.” For much of history, opals were prized as an incredibly rare gem. It wasn’t until large deposits were found in Australia that the stone became more commonplace. Today, the majority of opals on the market come from Australia, with the second highest producer being Ethiopia.

Notable Opals

The Andamooka Opal Necklace, also known as the Queen’s Opal, was presented to Queen Elizabeth II of England during her Commonwealth tour in 1954. Along with a matching set of earrings, the people and government of South Australia presented the necklace to her. Weighing in at a whopping 203 carats, the stone and its accompanying jewelry are named after the Andamooka opal fields in South Australia where they were found in 1949.

Fun Facts

The most common stone colors for opals are white, gray, and green. Opals can be found in a wide variety of colors, but the rarest of them all is black.

Most opals are cut into a style known as cabochon, which is flat on the bottom and domed on the top.

Opals are not considered minerals like most other gems, but instead are classified as mineraloids since they lack the crystalline structures of other precious stones like emeralds and diamonds. Other examples of mineraloids are onyx, amber, and pearls.

Opals are best known for the dazzling display of color that they present when held to a light source, however, it is only “precious opals” that have this colorful characteristic known as a “play-of-color,” while “common opals” are only one color.

Celebrity Birthdays

Julie Andrews - Oct 1st

Susan Sarandon - Oct 4th

Jessie Eisenberg - Oct 5th

Matt Damon - Oct 8th

Hugh Jackman - Oct 12th

Zach Efron - Oct 18th

Margo Kidder - Oct 17th

Snoop Dog - Oct 20th

Carrie Fisher – Oct 21st

Jeff Goldbloom - Oct 22nd

Julia Roberts – Oct 28th

Sources:

https://www.gia.edu/opal-history-lore

https://royalwatcherblog.com/2024/03/23/andamooka-opal-necklace/#google_vignette

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal

https://www.fandango.com/movie-photos/october-celebrity-birthdays-351