GEMOLOGUE CURATION OF THE BEST OPAL BIRTHSTONE JEWELLERY FOR OCTOBER
FROM A GEMOLOGIST’S DICTIONARY:
? Play-of-colour: an optical phenomenon which occurs as light entering an opal passes through the gaps of its internal structure. It results in the flash of colour we see. The size of gaps between the spheres determines the shade of opal.
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ainbow lighting ⚡️ What is your favourite type of opal?
When I wear opal jewellery I feel magical ? There is something about the way it reflects sunlight, and lures me in with the otherworldly spectrum of colours. I am sure that if you tried on this @goshwara set you’d feel the same way!
⭐️ FUN FACT: Many cultures ascribed various supernatural powers to opals. In ancient Greece the gemstones were believed to protect their owners from disease. In Arabic legends, however, opals were considered a gift that fell from heaven in flashes and lighting.
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Painted by nature, framed by human ? Do you have your favourite painter, sculptor, or artist in general? Let me know in the comments ?
It feels like a private art gallery I carry on my fingers. ? And surely, wearing Grima’s groundbreaking designs feels like collecting history. Jewels by the legendary Andrew Grima adorned royalty and movie stars throughout the decades. The list of the 60s and 70s icons seen wearing his unique designs includes: Princess Margaret, Jackie Onassis, Peter Sellers or Estee Lauder. I personally adore his bespoke vintage masterpieces. They are on my wishlist forever! ? Grima’s legacy continues through his wife Jojo and daughter Francesca.
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Countless shades of magic ✨ What does the shape of this ring remind you of?
We all know the famous Lotus Ring by @vancleefarpels. This another transfomable beauty is equally magical! ? Similarly, due to ingenious folding mechanism it can be worn either or one or two fingers. What makes Boule de neige Between the Finger Ring even more irresistible is the combination of white gold, diamonds, and ethereal white opal. Definitely on my wishlist!
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his Old World feeling ? Which bracelet – the wider or the thinner one, would you pick?
The characteristic rattle of gold bracelets, the bright hues of large opals… ? Oh, there is nothing better than statement jewels. As they make you feel like on the set of 1950s drama, Victor Velyan handmade pieces are his expression of love for metalsmithing and brightly coloured gemstones. The patina technique he uses involves diluting metals, such as copper, iron and zinc, in acid for one to two years. Patience is key, they say!
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Opals are inclusive! Are you an October baby? Or any of your friends is? Tag them in the comments ?
Unbelievable! Some people think it’s unlucky to wear opal unless you were born in October! ? Please, don’t listen to that. Unlike many other gemstones-related superstitions, this one comes from “Anne of Geierstein” by Sir Walter Scott – a book written in the 1800s. And it’s not culturally cohesive. Throughout the ages opal has been considered the most magical and the luckiest among other gems.
⭐️ FUN FACT: In the past people ascribed to opal the power of preserving the life and… colour of blond hair
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A galaxy from within ✨Do you prefer your rings to have a delicate setting or stronger, more defined one?
No wonder why opal is also called a galaxy ? Its depth, the display of intricate patterns and intriguing shades makes the gemstone almost unearthly ? Looking at my favourite opal jewels is like losing myself in the Milky Way. Especially in the case of this cosmic ring. The Solar system reimagined by the designer consists of Tahitian pearl planets, diamond stars, sapphire and tsavorite orbs, and obviously – opal abyss. Wearing the ring feels like having an entire universe wrapped around my finger
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Took a dip in a giant opal ? When you look at the October gemstone – does it look more like a galaxy, volcano, or fireworks to you? Let’s do a poll in the comments?
When my eyes get caught by opal I feel like swimming in the vast pool of bright hues ? That particular sensation is extremely accurate when you consider the fact that the gemstone contains up to 20% water within its structure!
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The mirror to a jewel’s soul! Who else is in love with this enchanting gem? And what do Opals remind you of?
I have recently discovered that amongst all the other heavenly gems Brazil births, opal is one of them! How much more beauty is hidden in this marvellous country? ? I surely cannot wait to see what else it’s in store for me! This Antonio Bernardo opal ring is an infinity of emotion, personality and elegance ✨ A universe of dreamy colours and rainbow pools ? What is your favourite opal quality or fact? Whether you are a gem lover or a gemologist, please share your pearls of wisdom in the comments, do not be shy?
If you are looking for a specific Brazilian gemstone, please send me a direct message and all of your gemstone dreams will come true, I promise
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Every opal has its own unique shade – just like our eyes. How would you describe the colour of your irises? ?
Dear Ming,
I need this ring ? Thank you!
Lots of love,
Liza of @GEMOLOGUE
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You can see your future in their reflection! ? On a scale from 1 to 10 – rate these earrings in the comments ?
I know that some of you may be new here, so I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Liza and I’m the president of the @bibivandervelden Fan Club ? (I’m kidding… kind of… ?)
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Eye see you this Monday! ? What’s the oldest jewel you bought? Describe it in the comments! ?
? GEMstory of the day! ?
Scientists say that the first major opal deposits formed 15 to 30 million years ago! What they consider a possible exception is Mintabie, Australia where the process could have occurred 400 million years ago!
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I have found the opal fountain! ⛲️ What does the earring look like to you?
? GEMstory of the day! ?
In ancient times Romans gave the October gemstone its own name meaning a precious stone – opalus.
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Tiaras will be worn! In the comments tag the queen of your heart! ❤️?
@lydiacourteille, I crown you the queen of opal! ? I have never seen so many opal jewels created by one designer!
⭐️ FUN FACT: Even though today we can rock the most opulent tiaras anytime, the protocol of the past was much more restrictive! This imposing piece of jewellery was supposed to be worn only at white tie events. On some invitations you could even find a note saying: “Tiaras will be worn”.
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Jewellery with soul ? Have you ever heard of Aura Soma?
When I held this breathtaking opal pedant (and even looked at it) I could feel its energy radiating and drowning me in ✨ And then I found out about Aura Soma system used in the process of creating the jewel ? It all started to make sense! In the words of @federica_rettore herself:
“I use Aura Soma cromo therapy products every day the philosophy behind their therapy is that colors have energy so this means our Aura is the energy of colors; since we are the colors we choose why not expressing my philosophy through my work creating”
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Opal is the whole Universe in one stone. Which earrings would you pick for yourself – 1 or 2?
Wondering what to gift your partner with – think opal! ? At least that’s what I did choosing my husband’s birthday present! ?? For ages opal has been associated with love and desire. But it’s also believed to bring loyalty and faithfulness ? It is like the whole Universe within one stone. So when you gift your loved one with an opal you give them the whole world!
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Hot as Australian sun ? Which piece by @lydiacourteille with Mexican fire opals would you wear today – earrings or ring? ?
? GEMstory of the day! ?
A Mexican fire opal is actually very different than the opal we are used to seeing. While an opal is white, displaying an iridescent play of colors in every color of the rainbow, the Mexican fire opal is a uniform red, orange, yellow, or brownish body color, because of their iron content ?
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Leave your mark with opals! What is your favourite opal pattern? Let me know in the comments ?
Each opal has its own unique “fingerprint”. And that’s the arrangement of its play-of-colour. Opal lovers come up with multiple names for each pattern. But the main categories used are:
? pinfire – tiny patches of play-of-colour’s dots
? flash – large areas of play-of-color
? harlequin – great, usually rectangular patches of play of colour with edges touching each other
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Music on my mind! ? What’s your favourite song at the moment?
Only @wallacechanart can turn music into jewels! The form of this “Music on my Mind” necklace is inspired by the shape of sound waves. Distinctive combination of opals, topaz and rubies, in the words of the designer, pulses like a heartbeat. ? I don’t know about you, but heart surely skipped a beat when I saw this unique beauty!
❔QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is the difference between precious and common opals?
? MY ANSWER: The difference is simple – precious opals display play-of-colour. Common ones don’t.
For more exquisite jewels by Wallace Chan
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On cloud nine wearing these fashionable earrings by Lydia Courtelle ? What do you think about this design? Let me know in the comments! ?
Every opal is different. Just like people or snowflakes gemstones possess their own unique traits. Various combinations of those contribute to creating that one-of-a-kind version of beauty. That’s why I love them so much! ? Experts constantly evaluate opals in three main aspects:
? colour
? pattern
? clarity
Their changeable appearance depending on lighting or angle makes them quite a challange to classify!
⭐️ FUN FACT: The most desirable hue for opal’s play-of-colour is red. When it comes to the background colour, however, the industry favours black.
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Opal is not the only October birthstone! ♎️ Would you be interested in tourmaline series? Let me know in the comments!
I am sure all of us know at least one Libra that brings joy to our lives (in my case it’s my dad!). It is no wonder why their birthstone is a rainbow-like opal! Apparently those born between September 23rd and October 22nd are ruled by Venus – a planet associated with beauty, art, and luxury? Libras are generally known for being:
⭐️ Idealistic
⭐️ Well-balanced
⭐️ Diplomatic
⭐️ Non-Confrontational
⭐️ Clever
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aradise is a place where gemstone flowers grow! ? What is your favourite shade of opal? Let me know in the comments! ?
Just like colours of a rainbow there are countless types of opal. Can you believe that one book gave examples of almost 400 opals?! Thankfully, there are a few main categories used in the trade. Here they are:
? Black – translucent to opaque, play-of-colour occurs against black or dark grey background
? White – translucent or semi-translucent white, shows play-of-colour
? Crystal – shows exceptional play-of-colour, transparent to semitransparent background colour
? Water – faint play-of-colour or none, background ranges from transparent to semitransparent
? Boulder – includes parts of the surrounding rock (host-rock called matrix), shows play-of-colour
? Fire – also known as Mexican opal, from transparent to translucent shades of red, browns, oranges; often doesn’t show play-of-colour.
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This cloudy October be a rainbow! What’s your favourite fact about opal? Let me know in the comments!
SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT OPAL ??
? The Beduins believed opals fell from heaven on lightening!
? In 2015 NASA found opal on Mars! It is considered an evidence of ancient life on Red Planet!
? Australian aboriginals thought that opal was a sent from God when rainbows meet the Earth
? Opal was believed to bring bad luck. All because of “Anne of Geierstein” by Sir Walter Scott, written in 1829. One of the characters in the novel died after wearing the gemstone which lost its colour being exposed to holy water.
? In Indian mythology, the Mother Goddes turned the virgin Goddess of the Rainbow into an opal! The name of the gemstone coming from the Sanskrit “upala”, means- a precious stone.
? Opal is so fragile that craftsmen often refused to work with it! No one wanted to risk the cost of opal lost in cutting or shaping.
? Opal was Queen Victoria’s favourite gemstone
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Opal Week ? Shades of October ? Do you think that orange suit me? ?
In my ruffled dress I feel as fall personalised! And my opal ring is like a sudden glimpse of sun on October sky. I love jewellery for bringing so much light into my outfits! Hopefully my new content makes you feel the same way
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