Opal - The perfect birthstone gift for October Birthdays.

It is frequently mentioned in our Corbridge shop that Opals are considered to be unlucky, but fortunately it is now considered to be an Old Wives Tale. Opals are the birthstone (alongside Tourmaline) for October and we hand craft a selection of pieces which are made in our workshop and always have a few one of a kind pieces that are rather special.

The origins of that 'myth' may have come from a few different sources. Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Anne of Geierstein' refers to a character called the Baroness or Arnheim who passed away shortly after her lucky Opal talisman loses its colour when touched by Holy Water. 

There is also a story of a Black Plague victim wearing an Opal that lost its colour before the victim died as well as links to Opal gifts given to Spanish Royal family members only for them to die after the gift. There have even been links to the Diamond industry fanning the flames of the unlucky rumour to help promote the use of Diamonds in jewellery over the use of Opals. 

So, what are Opals? These pretty gemstones are made up of hydrated Silica with a unique internal structure of tiny spheres of silica arranged in a regular pattern which cause the diffraction of light entering the gemstone and showing a 'play of colour' known as Opalescence. 

The rarest Opal is the Black Opal where the main body of the opal has a dark background and is characterised by flashes of red through to green and blue with red being the most highly prized. Boulder opals which are Opals within their host rock are a favourite in the Corbridge shop as they have such individuality and can look like something a telescope viewing a far off galaxy may reveal. 

Opals need a bit of care to be worn and protected from everyday damage. They are not a stone to wear everyday as the make up of Water makes them susceptible to drying out and cracking when exposed to temperature changes. They are 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs scale which means they are easy to scratch and knock. 

They may need a little consideration to wear, but they are definitely worth the care! We like to set them into a bezel setting which protects the stone.