Enchanting Opal

Displaying all the colours of the rainbow, opal is coveted and celebrated for its beautiful iridescence and striking display of patterns.

The official birthstone of October, Opal metaphysically symbolises hope and purity and is thought to a protective stone by keeping its wearer safe from danger. Opallios is the Greek word for Opals meaning 'To see a change of colour".

The flashing play of colour you see in opal is caused by diffraction of light by silica spheres stacked like tiny ping-pong balls in a box. The variation in size, arrangement and pattern of these spheres are what are responsible for the colour of opal.

Varying greatly with their colour of fire, opals that display an abundance of red is usually among the most expensive.

Equally as beautiful, but less rare and expensive are those strong in blue and green. One of the rarest types of opals is the Harlequin opal which displays patterns of colour that resemble those of a checkerboard.

Due to its iridescent beauty, opal is among one of the most wildly popular choices of stone of many jewellery designers. Due to its delicate formation and water content, opal is a porous stone that requires some care to prevent any scratches, blows or overdrying.

A phenomenon called 'cracking' is common whereby the opal stone becomes too dry and cracks; thereby wiping away any value of the stone.

With its random iridescent effects, beautifully mermaid- colours and ability to bring even the most simple of designs into enchanting fruition, here are our top picks of the newest opal pieces to hit the jewellery market!