The other birthstone of the month of October is the Opal...
Description
All the splendour of nature is found in opal: fire, flashes, every colour of the rainbow. Made of hydrated silica, colourless in itself, it owes its hues to impurities and to its structure.
Meaning and history
Its name is thought to come from the Sanskrit upala, “precious stone”, which became opalus in ancient Rome. It is prized for its shifting rainbow colours, the “play of colour”, which writers have compared to fireworks, galaxies and volcanoes. Bedouins believed it held lightning and fell from the sky during storms; the Greeks thought it gave the gift of prophecy. In Europe it symbolised purity, hope and truth, and was believed to combine the virtues of all coloured stones
OriginS
Australia is the leading producer. Ethiopia, Mexico and Brazil are also important sources, as are Central Europe, Honduras, Indonesia, Madagascar, Peru, Turkey and the United States.
Hardness & Maintenance
5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Clean with lukewarm water only. Strong heat or sudden temperature changes can crack it. Store it separately to avoid scratches.
The ideal metal
Silver and white gold, with their soft, cool tones, harmonise with it and reveal all its light.
Virtues
Traditionally, opal, known as “the stone of a thousand lights”, is a protective stone said to lift the wearer’s mood.