<link href="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.1.1/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet" id="bootstrap-css"> <script src="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.1.1/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script> <script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.2.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <!------ Include the above in your HEAD tag ----------> <h1>What Is Opal Gemstone - Facts and Information</h1> <p>Is any other gemstone more attractive than an <a href="https://www.navratan.com/categories/opal">Opal stone</a>? William Shakespeare's 'queen of gems' is one of the most attractive gemstones ever found, with is a scintillating play of color and a smooth range of colors. Its captivating history extends back thousands of years and leads us right up until the modern-day, with vital mines of the gem still being made throughout the globe. Here, we take a more familiar look at the history and science of the gem as well as some of the amazing diversity we're able to source for you here at Navratan. We wish you experience this brief history of Opal gemstone- let's get started...</p> <h2>History Of Opal Gemstone:</h2> <p>The term 'Opal' has long been considered to have originated from the Latin word ‘Opalus’ indicating ‘<a href="https://www.navratan.com/categories/navratna">precious stone</a>’ and the Greek ‘Opallios’ meaning ‘to view a change in hue’, but these two terms are themselves descended from the older Sanskrit word ‘Upala’. This word begins back to around 250 BC, at which point it is believed that Opal stone was more precious than any other gemstone in the world. Archeologists have seen early Opal gains to over 10,000 years ago in North America and 6,000 years ago in Kenya. This latter discovery was considered to be Ethiopian in source, as Ethiopia borders Kenya to the north. Both of these sediments must have been forgotten by Roman times, however, as the only noted origin before major strikes in Australia in the late 19th century was in Slovakia in a place called Cervenica.</p> <p>Opal stone was long believed to be the most valuable of gems because it regarded the hues of many other revered gemstones. Fine quality specimens will brighten with a whole rainbow of colors that appeal to mind many other sought-after jewels. Roman scholar Pliny the Elder (23 - 79 AD), who recorded many of the gems he encountered, introduced Opal gemstone in his Natural History encyclopedia. He stated, “In the Opal gemstone, you shall observe the burning fire of the Carbuncle or Ruby, the brilliant purple of the Amethyst, the green sea of the Emerald and all glittering together, combined after an unbelievable manner. Some Opal gemstones bear such glorious luster with them that they are able to meet the bravest and most vibrant colors of painters: others describe the blazing fire of brimstone, yea, and the bright blaze of burning oil.“ At this point in antiquity, the word Carbuncle was most likely committing to great quality red Garnet.</p> <p>This eye-catching gemstone has made a path through history, giving an opinion on many cultures and civilizations over the globe. Fire-Opal was located in South America at least 6,000 years ago and was desired by the indigenous peoples. The Aztecs worshiped the gemstone and described it ‘quetzalitzlipyollitli’, indicating the ‘stone of the bird of paradise. In Ancient India and Ancient Persia, Fire Opal stone was cherished as a symbol of ardent love. In Ancient Greece, the stone was regarded as a talisman that was preserved against disease and Arabian myths tell a story of how Opal gemstone fall to earth from the heavens during lightning rages. Multiple European nations have been Opal in high value not only for its value but for its purported powers to encourage the virtues of simplicity, hope, and integrity.</p> <p>The Romans relished the colors of Opal gemstone and wore the gemstone as a way to boast about their property and status. They sourced their Opal gemstones from deposits beyond their borders in eastern Europe. The Roman general Mark Antony desired to give Cleopatra of Egypt an Opal gem as a mark of their relationship and decreased a fellow general with a proposal to buy his awesome stone. Rather than sell it, the common, called Nonius, fled Rome rather and left behind his home and most of his possessions. He got to hold his Opal though! Opal gemstone was so important to the Romans that one Roman Emperor is said to have given up one-third of his entire kingdom in exchange for a single stone. William Shakespeare named Opal as ‘a a miracle’ and coined the term ‘queen of gems’ in his play Twelfth Night, which he penned between 1601 and 1602. The French emperor Napoleon gave a detailed 700 carat Opal to his first wife Josephine, known as ‘The Burning of Troy’ because of its vigorous red flashes. Whilst the gem is so well documented that it is generally believed to have been a real gem, it sadly hasn’t been seen or heard about since Josephine passed away in 1814.</p> <p>For all the real attributes connected with Opal gemstone over the years, there were some cynical ones too. Opal’s can dry out if they’re not used with care (see below section on care and cleaning) and this can head to the gem going dull and even splitting in extreme cases. This latter circumstance is known as crazing, and before the ability of Opal was fully understood this dulling and crazing of Opal gemstone guided many to conclude that Opal stone was a sign of bad luck. Indeed, Opal gemstones have been analyzed both good luck and bad luck throughout history. They were as valuable as Diamonds to the Ancient Greeks and used in jewels by the Romans, whereas in Russia the gem was recognized by the Tsars to signify the evil eye. When Europeans first went to the New World they found the Aztecs of South America mining the gemstone, and due to its rareness and beauty, they carried many back to Europe to be presented to the royal courts. By the early 19th century, the poor luck connected with the stone had gotten somewhat out of hand, and Opal had happened almost entirely out of popular use.</p> <p>Thankfully, later in the time, Queen Victoria threw out any talk of disaster and superstition that had become established in the story of Opal gemstone and started to use the gem. Queen Victoria was something of a pacesetter, and her loyal citizens often looked to her for thought when it came to fashion and jewelry. She attended to repopularize the gem and put to rest any adverse connotations the gem was still carrying. Opal was seen for the first time in Australia during the 1840s, and high-quality Black Opal was located there in 1877. Australia hindered adding new mines to the map as the 19th century became the 20th. Opal mining started in Lightning Ridge in 1905, Coober Pedy in 1915, and Andamooka in 1930. All these mines, and more, are found in a large area of Australia identified as the Great Artesian Basin. The basin includes over 22% of the whole country, and in very simple terms it is typically made up of very permeable dikes that operate a lot of moisture, an indispensable ingredient in the form of Opal stone. Over 90% of the world’s Opal gemstones were coming out of Australia until very newly when phenomenal quality Opal gemstone was rediscovered in Ethiopia, first in 1994 and again in a different place in 2008.</p> <h2>OPAL GEMSTONE INFORMATION</h2> <p>Opal gemstone is one of the birthstones for October (along with <a href ="https://www.navratan.com/categories/tourmaline">Tourmaline gemstone</a>) and is the gem provided on a 14th wedding anniversary. The distinctive bright colors given out by Opal gems are made by tiny amounts of moisture and silica confined within the stone. Gemstones are often classified into precious and semi-precious categories, with the precious variety of gemstones being Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald, and all other stones falling under the semi-precious category. Some jewelers include Opal stone as the fifth precious gem, and you only have to take a unique glimpse at a top-quality gem to understand why they would collectively give it this rare attention. Whichever way you classify it, Opal is one of the most popular and sought-after gemstones that we’ve ever sourced.</p> <p>Opals are gorgeous gems, with the most beautiful Opal specimens containing every color of the rainbow. Their unique internal hues are one of the most captivating visual impressions devised by nature, a phenomenon referred to as ‘play of color’. Opal gems are doubly beautiful as they often also have a wonderful luminosity, known as opalescence. The ludicrous play of color witnessed in gem-quality Opal gemstones is made by the refraction of light. The body of each Opal gemstone is made up of tightly bound silicon balls with moisture and fixed acids trapped in the gaps between them. Light enters the gem, bounces off the bent facades of the silica, and is emitted back out of the gemstone. Depending on the size of the silicon balls, different values will be refracted. For instance, silicon balls 0.2 microns wide will refract blue light, silicon balls 0.25 microns wide will refract green light and silicon balls 0.32 microns wide will refract red light.</p> <p>Opal gemstones were produced from hydrated silicon dioxide and were formed when water-based silica solutions deposited gel-like items in gaps and cracks in rocks. They are usually located around regions where there are hot seasons or fountains. This natural method actually transpires fairly frequently, but often the resulting gem is a colorless ‘common Opal gemstone’ with its atoms arranged randomly within the gem, indicating there is no gem structure. Common Opal gemstones also come in a variety of various base values but often hold little or no play of color. Gem-quality Opal gemstones do, however, oughta neatly arranged gem structure and almost always hold a play of color.</p> <h3>Buy Opal Gemstone From Navratan</h3> <p>In terms of quality, opal gemstones come with the finest quality and in a variety of colors. Now you can buy gemstones online from a reliable gemstone store like <a href="https://www.navratan.com/">Navratan</a> - The Online Gem Bazar. Get a certificate for the opal gemstone you buy from our website. Navratan offers a wide range of certified Opal gemstones at the best affordable price.</p>