Celebrate October Birthdays with Opal!

There is arguably no gemstone more enchanting and alluring than opal. Teeming with color and mystery, opal is the perfect birthstone for October. Unlike other gemstones, opal reflects light so that it displays many vibrant colors at once. This light play creates a kaleidoscopic, rainbow effect that is simply mesmerizing. To kick off October, we’re delving into the mystery of opal birthstones with some fascinating facts.

Opal's Name Origin

Evidence of the first opal artifacts dates back to 4000 B.C. However, the origin of the name opal causes much debate. The ancient Greek word for opal is opallios, meaning to see a change of color. The Roman word is opalus, meaning precious stone. Many modern references suggest the word opal is adapted from the Sanskrit work upala, meaning jewel. Although it is not known for certain, the term we use today for this iridescent birthstone seems to be a combination foal l three languages.

How is Opal Formed?

There is some dispute about how exactly opal is formed, but many believe it is the result of rain. This theory is referred to as the weathering model, and specifically refers to desert regions with heavy rainfall with heavy rainfall and silica rich sediment. According to this model, rain carrying silica seeps down into the crevasses of rocks. Once the dry season arrives, the water evaporates, and the silica that is left behind dries out and hardens into precious opal.

This process is a slow one of course and is believed to take millions of years. Opal is amorphous, meaning it has no defined crystal system or structure. Instead, opal is comprised of many tiny silica spheres of varying sizes. This makes opal gems the most unpredictable, able to take on many shapes and display several colors at once. Boulder opal, for example, has been known to reveal the entire rainbow in just one stone.

Precious vs. Common

There are two distinct variations of opal – precious opal and common opal. Precious opals are more popular and display the phenomenon known as “play of color” or “opalescence.” Most precious opal flash a mixture of vivid colors. Although still beautiful, common opals do not exhibit “opalescence,” and are typically one solid, opaque color.

White gold open cuff bracelet set with pear cut opals surrounded by diamond haloes.

Where is Opal Found?

Common opal can be found pretty easily in many regions of the world. Precious opal, on the other hand, is primarily mine in Australia where the gemstone is particularly abundant. Australian mines, like Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, and Mintabie, produce about 90% of the world’s precious opal. Other countries where opal can be found include Brazil, Mexico, and Ethiopia.

Meaning & Symbolism

In addition to being the birthstone of October, opal is also the gemstone given to celebrate 14th wedding anniversaries. This exquisite gem is considered a symbol of hope, innocence, and purity. Opal also has strong implications of happiness, faithfulness, loyalty, and confidence. Unfortunately, opals have quite an arduous history. This is widely due to Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 novel, Anne of Geierstein, which emphasized opal’s relationship to bad luck and death. Within a year of the book’s publication, opal sales dropped by 50%. Despite this period of negative superstitions, opals have generally been symbols of goo luck. They are believed to possess the virtues of each gemstone whose colors are represented in their wide color spectrum.

Opal Durability

Opal scores a 5.5 to 6.5 on Mohs Scale of Hardness, meaning these beautiful gemstones are relatively fragile. Though opal can be used for jewelry, proper care is necessary to ensure lifelong durability. Be sure to avoid chemical cleaners and wearing opal jewelry in harsh environments. If your opal jewelry requires cleaning, warm, soapy water is best. Additionally, high heat or sudden changes in temperature can fracture an opal. Unlike most jewelry, opals should not be stored in a dry place, as insufficient moisture can be damaging.

The Queen of Gemstones

Due to their natural beauty and brilliance, opals have been deemed the “Queen of Gemstones.” They were a favorite of Queen Victoria, who gifted each of her daughters an opal on their wedding day. In fact, opals have been cherished by royalty for centuries. Queen Elizabeth II owned a whopping 203-carat opal that was given to her by the Australian government. Opals are also one of the rare gemstones to have extraterrestrial origins. In July of 2015, NASA reported the discovery of opals on Mars. Not only does this give opal a more magical and mysterious aura, but this also suggests a greater potential for life on Mars since opal consists of water.

Shop October's Birthstone in San Diego

If you’re looking to add more brilliance and exquisite color to your jewelry collection, then you must visit Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers in San Diego! Explore our assortment of new, vintage, and antique opal jewelry. Whether shopping for yourself, or someone celebrating an October birthday, we have the perfect opal gifts for you. Stop by our jewelry store on San Diego Avenue and experience the captivating visual effect of this stunning October birthstone for yourself!

Find the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Opal ring, pearl and diamond bangle, and chocolate and white diamond earrings laid on green beads.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! This year, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14th. To help you shop easier here’s a few examples of beautiful pieces so you can visualize the best gifts this year. All the jewelry listed below is currently available in our showroom* and our sales team is eager to help you find the perfect gift! Stand out, no matter your budget, with unique and beautiful gifts that are as thoughtful as you are. This guide is just a small taste of what we have in our showroom and curated collections, so call us at 619-299-1500 or visit our showroom on San Diego Avenue today!

White gold Ethiopian opal solitaire bezel set ring.

New 2.42 CTW Opal
Ring

This stunning Ethiopian opal ring is the perfect gift for the Mom who loves statement pieces. Set with a 2.42 carat oval cut Ethiopian opal, this 18k white gold ring is sure to make a lasting impression.

White pearl and diamond bangle.

Vintage 0.50 CTW Diamond & Pearl Bracelet

Pearls are a classic that’re making a comeback! Gift the Mom in your life this trendy 14k yellow & white gold bangle set with 3mm-5.2mm white pearls & 0.50 carats of single cut diamonds.

White gold open heart station necklace set with a round diamond.

Vintage 0.18 CTW Diamond
Necklace

Show Mom her heart is as beautiful to you as diamonds are to her with this stunning necklace. An adorable 14k white gold heart centered with a 0.18 carat round brilliant cut diamond is the perfect necklace for any Mom.

Yellow gold floral stud earrings set with chocolate diamonds surrounded by white diamonds.

Vintage 0.34 CTW Diamond
Earrings

These classic vintage earrings are a soft and subtle way of giving back to her this year. Set with 0.34 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds in beautiful yellow & white gold, they’ll definitely make a statement for every Mom wearing them.

Yellow gold stud earrings set with oval blue topaz surrounded by diamond haloes.

New Denny Wong 9.72 CTW Blue Topaz Earrings

These exquisite 18k rose gold and platinum Denny Wong earrings boast 9.48 carats of oval cut blue topaz surrounded by a halo of 0.24 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds. With intricate details, this stunning pair of earrings is sure to surprise any Mom.

Vintage yellow gold Tiffany & Co. pendant necklace.

Vintage Tiffany & Co.
Necklace

Tiffany & Co. has long been seen as a symbol of luxury, high-end quality, and stunningly beautiful jewelry. Show the Mom you love in your life that she has your whole heart with this gorgeous “T” necklace from Tiffany & Co.

No matter who the Mom is in your life, celebrate her this Mother’s Day. Our skilled team here at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers is more than excited to help you find the perfect gift for her. Hopefully this gets your ideas flowing, then visit our showroom on San Diego Avenue! We’d love to help you make her whole day magical.

*Availability may vary. Many of our items are vintage and pre-owned and we have limited stock. Call or visit us to view our collections.