| There is no other stone that has the mystery of the | | | | flashes of rainbow colors. |
| opal. With its fiery colors and magnificent spectrum | | | | The boulder opal is a natural solid opal with a fine |
| of color it draws you in and you are helpless to look | | | | layer of opal deposited on an iron base. |
| away. | | | | The water or jelly opal is colorless and transparent |
| Every opal is different. There are no two stones | | | | and has no color play. |
| the same. And every stone reflects the light | | | | The crystal opal is also transparent, but displays a |
| differently depending on its depth and personal | | | | rainbow of color. It is so transparent you can see |
| characteristics. This stone eludes a mystical aura | | | | through it on a light surface. |
| without even trying. | | | | The Mosaic opal is just what it says. Small irregular |
| Opals are extremely popular for jewelry and it's not | | | | pieces of opal tightly fit together. It's a great way |
| hard to figure out why with that beautiful array of | | | | to use chips and is very affordable. |
| color. Soft and feminine yet fierce and bold. | | | | The opal doublet is made of sliced layers of natural |
| Opal has the honors of being October's birthstone. | | | | opal that is too thin to be used in a single set. It is |
| Back to ancient times it has been associated with | | | | bonded and set on black glass or ironstone which |
| magical qualities. It was believed to bring both good | | | | enhances its color. The doublet opal is much |
| and bad luck. Some cultures used opals in white | | | | cheaper because you are buying less true opal. |
| magic and believed they brought good fortune. | | | | Synthetic opals are created in a lab and although they |
| Other cultures considered them a third eye that | | | | basically have the same properties as a natural opal |
| would allow you to tell the future. | | | | by law the jeweler must tell you if it is a synthetic |
| Opals are a semi precious stone but a black opal can | | | | stone. |
| cost as much as a diamond. The amount of fire in | | | | Contrary to what you hear opals are no more |
| the opal and where it comes from will determine the | | | | difficult to take care of then other stones. You |
| price. Pale opals can be purchased quite cheaply but | | | | should not knock or bang them and you should keep |
| the more fiery or red the more expensive the opal | | | | them out of direct sunlight or heat. |
| becomes. | | | | One thing you need to know is that opals cannot be |
| Opal jewelry comes in a variety of style and is set in | | | | cleaned in commercial jewelry cleaner or any other |
| both gold and sterling silver. Sometimes you'll see | | | | harsh chemical solution. Rather use a soft brush and |
| triplet or stacked opals, other times they are set | | | | water with a dab of vinegar, then rinse thoroughly. |
| solitaire. They also come in a variety of different | | | | Water will not hurt your opal unless it is a doublet or |
| cuts. | | | | triplet then you should not immerse in water. Solid |
| There are several types of opals: | | | | stones are fine. See that's not so difficult. |
| The fire opal is probably the most popular. It is | | | | So the next time an opal draws you in and wants to |
| translucent with fiery orange and red flecks. The | | | | go home with you why not add this beautiful |
| colors are vivid and intoxicating. This opal is | | | | mysterious stone to your jewelry collection. Only |
| sometimes called the Mexican opal or the Cherry opal. | | | | then will you experience the mystery of the opal. |
| The white opal is an opaque milky white with light | | | | |
