Opal: The Birthstone for October

45898474_s.jpgThe Opal, from the Latin “opalus”, is a stunning precious gemstone which consists of a hydrated form of silica, chemically similar to quartz. Once described by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night as, a “miracle and queen of gems”, Opal has been highly sought-after for many centuries and has a rich history that heightens its intrigue.

The history of the opal can be traced back to the Middle-Ages, when they were thought to bring good luck and invisibility powers. This attitude has changed over time and, since the mid-19th century, they have been considered to bring bad luck - a reputation which disgruntled diamond-merchants were most-likely responsible for.

 

Today over 95% of the world’s opal comes from Australia, where it is the national gemstone. The different types of opal, varying in brilliance, brightness, pigmentation and pattern, fit into two main groups:

Precious Opal

The sharper and brighter the gemstone is, the more valuable it is and, the rarest of all, are opals which are red in colour. The most valuable opals exhibit a striking play of colour, due to the intricacy of their chemical structure. Estimated to be worth just under £500,000 the most valuable known opal in the world is the Aurora Australis and weighs 180 carats.

Potch Opal

Also known as the “Common Opal”, Potch Opals make up approximately 95% of the mined gemstone and are of little value. Unlike Precious Opals, they don’t exhibit a play of colour, but instead a single colour such as white, grey or black.

As with all precious gemstones, synthetic alternatives exist. Man-made opals can be identified as being different to a precious opal, by a trained eye. These are worth very little.

If you have some opal jewellery, and you would like to know the value, then why not bring it into one of the Cuttings branches in either Ramsgate or Margate, and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.

Loading Conversation

Our use of cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. These will be set only if you accept.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Cookies page. Cookie Control Link Icon


Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.