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October's Birthstone
“Now the melancholy God protect thee, and the tailor make thy garments of changeable taffeta, for thy mind is opal.”
~ Twelfth Night, or What You Will, William Shakespeare, 1601-2
The opal, with its ever-changing colors, is one of the most captivating gems in existence. For centuries, it has been linked to royalty and good fortune. The gem’s name originates from the Sanskrit word upala, meaning "precious stone," which later evolved into the Greek Opallios, translating to "to see a change of color." Known as the "Eye Stone," it was cherished for its brilliance, playful color shifts, and dazzling flashes. However, the opal's reputation took a dramatic hit in the 19th century with the publication of Sir Walter Scott's 1829 novel, Anne of Geierstein. In the story, the enchanting Lady Hermione wears a stunning opal in her hair, reflecting her mood in brilliant colors. It sparkles when she is cheerful but glows red in anger. Yet, when the opal comes into contact with holy water, it loses its color, creating panic and fear. Accused of being a demon, Lady Hermione meets a tragic fate. This work of fiction, combined with market forces of the time, caused such a stir that the opal market collapsed, prices plummeting by 50 percent. Today, opals are often gifted to celebrate the 14th wedding anniversary and symbolize hope, purity, amplification, and mystical play. This tartan echoes the opal's stunning array of colors—sapphires, rubies, topaz—much like the vibrant harlequin opal. Happy October birthdays! 💙 ❤️ 💛 🎂 💎💍
Gemstones have played various roles in the myths and legends of human cultures throughout history. Some tell a story or are believed to have special powers, but all of them share a common beauty and appear in every colour of the rainbow.
In ancient times, the opal was known as the Queen of Gems because it encompassed the colors of all other gems.
Many considered opal to be beneficial to the eye and wore it to cure eye diseases. Some even believed it could render the carrier invisible. Supposedly, carrying an opal wrapped in a fresh bay leaf would keep others from seeing you. This superstition earned opal the popular designation of patronus furum, Latin for “patron of thieves.”
Australia’s Lightning Ridge is known for its rare and stunning black Opals. The ideal black opal is one that displays broad patterns covering the surface, with all the colors of the rainbow, including red.
The name opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit upala, meaning “precious stone,” and later the Greek derivative “Opallios,” meaning “to see a change of color.”
In modern times, however, opals obtained a reputation for a stone of bad luck. Interestingly, the origin of this unfortunate reputation and myth is attributed to Sir Walter Scott! His bestselling novel, Anne of Geuerstein, written in 1829, tells the story of Lady Hermione, who is falsely accused of being a demoness, and dies shortly after a drop of holy water accidentally falls on her opal and destroys its color.
The reading public carelessly took this to mean that the popular and revered author was warning of the bad luck an opal can bring. Within months of the novel being published, the opal market crashed and prices plummeted down 50%. Although undeservedly, Sir Walter Scott is often credited with destroying the European opal market for almost 50 years.
In 1912, tourmaline was added as an alternative birthstone to opal as October's birthstone.
For thirteen other mysterious and possibly cursed gemstones, click the black opal!