Facts about Opals

Facts About

Did you Know? List of Interesting Facts about Opals
Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about Opals, trivia and information, including some useful statistics about this gemstone and birthstone will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults. It is a wise person who learns about the gem before you buy jewelry.

Interesting Facts about Opals are as follows:

  • Fact 1 - Definition: Opals (hydrous silicon dioxide) are semi-transparent and show varying colors against a pale or dark ground. The Common opal has a milky appearance. Menilite is a brown impure variety, occurring in concretions at Menilmontant, near Paris. Other varieties are cacholong, girasol, hyalite and geyserite

  • Fact 2 - The origin of the name Opal is derived from the Latin word "opalus" which means "a stone"
  • Fact 3 - The more colors in an Opal the more valuable the gemstone will be. The dominant colors in an Opal have value in the order of red, orange yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
  • Fact 4 - The Opal is the birthstone of the month of October which relates to the Zodiac Sign of Libra. Libra dates: September 24 - October 23
  • Fact 5 - The alternative Birthstones for Libra are Peridots, Agate, Aquamarine and Sapphires
  • Fact 6 - The symbolism associated with Opals is as follows:

    • Purity

    • Hope
    • Innocence
  • Fact 7 - Opals are also the Wedding anniversary gemstone and are given as gifts for the 14th and 18th year of marriage
  • Fact 8 - Opals come in a vast range of natural colors and shades. Black Opal is more valuable than crystal Opal, which in turn is generally more valuable than white/milky Opals
  • Fact 9 - The color is mainly determined and caused by the gem's selective absorption of certain wavelengths of light called the body color.
  • Fact 10 - The colors of the Opal gem consist of three components, the hue, tone and saturation:

    • The Hue which gives the first impression of the color

    • The Tone which relates to the the lightness or darkness of the color of the Opal ranging from light to medium to dark
    • The saturation which relates to the intensity of the Opal's color, which is measured from dull to strong to vivid
  • Fact 11 - The Opal group of stones contain 4 major types: Black, Crystal, Boulder and White/Milk
  • Fact 12 - All gemstones, including Opals, are graded by color, cut, clarity and carat weight
  • Fact 13 - The tradition of giving gifts of birthstone jewelry containing Opals dates back many hundreds of years
  • Fact 14 - There are specific birthstones and gemstones, such as Opals, which are traditionally given according to the month that a person is born
  • Fact 15 - Pure crystals of Opal are used as gemstones. The crystal structure of Opals is amorphous

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