W
hile we rarely rely on the birthstone chart to identify themes for our monthly edit, this October, we decided to make an exception. We’re not playing favorites, from ruby to rhodochrosite, we can genuinely make a case for the beauty of any gemstone. But there’s something about opals that feels like a close reflection of the changing season. The scintillating range of colors seen in opals evoke the glow of fall’s sunsets and the fire in certain of these kaleidoscopic mineraloids mimic the autumnal tones of changing leaves.
Multiple legends and lore surround opals, from stories that Zeus’ tears of joy upon defeating the Titans turned into opals when they hit the ground, to Arabic tales of opals falling from the heavens in flashes of lightening.
Suzy Landa
Multiple legends and lore surround opals, from stories that Zeus’ tears of joy upon defeating the Titans turned into opals when they hit the ground, to Arabic tales of opals falling from the heavens in flashes of lightening. The watery composition of opals is responsible for the varying flashes of colors that can be seen in the palest white or jelly opals to the deepest blue boulder opals to the most incandescent fire opals or the deceptively demure pink opals. While a major part of their appeal, these complexities of colors also present challenges when mixing opals with other colored gemstones, or merely elegantly setting them in precious metals. The artistic eye required to capture the magic of opals and enhance their inherent beauty is on full display in the selection of opals submitted to this month’s “Oh My Opals” edit.