Opal - Facts About the Gemstone

  Opal Jewelry   is a type of silica that is composed of water, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen. It is the national gemstone of the land down under, which supplies 95 percent of the world's opal. This precious stone is used to add beauty to ornaments, jewelry, carvings, mosaics and inlays. Some facts about the opal include: 1. This precious stone got its name from the Latin word "opalus" which literally means stone. It is the birthstone of people who are born in the month of October. 2. The dominant colors of this gemstone are the colors of the rainbow. These are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The more colors it has, the more precious it will be. Its colors are actually caused by the gem's selective absorption of specific wavelengths of light. 3. This beautiful stone symbolizes purity, hope and innocence. 4. You should take extra care of this stone as jewelry because it is soft. You should not wear it when doing manual work or playing sports. Never ...