Interesting Facts about Opals Unusual and interesting information and trivia from our collection of interesting facts about Opals. Interesting and concise facts about Opals including their definition and meanings. Brief and concise facts which will answer your questions and provide facts about all different aspects of Opals including details of this gemstone and birthstone.
Did you Know? List of Interesting Facts about Opals Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about Opals, trivia and information, including some useful statistics about this gemstone and birthstone will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults. It is a wise person who learns about the gem before you buy jewelry. Interesting Facts about Opals are as follows:
Fact 1 - Definition: Opals (hydrous silicon dioxide) are semi-transparent and show varying colors against a pale or dark ground. The Common opal has a milky appearance. Menilite is a brown impure variety, occurring in concretions at Menilmontant, near Paris. Other varieties are cacholong, girasol, hyalite and geyserite
Fact 2 - The origin of the name Opal is derived from the Latin word "opalus" which means "a stone"
Fact 3 - The more colors in an Opal the more valuable the gemstone will be. The dominant colors in an Opal have value in the order of red, orange yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
Fact 4 - The Opal is the birthstone of the month of October which relates to the Zodiac Sign of Libra. Libra dates: September 24 - October 23
Fact 5 - The alternative Birthstones for Libra are Peridots, Agate, Aquamarine and Sapphires
Fact 6 - The symbolism associated with Opals is as follows:
Purity
Hope
Innocence
Fact 7 - Opals are also the Wedding anniversary gemstone and are given as gifts for the 14th and 18th year of marriage
Fact 8 - Opals come in a vast range of natural colors and shades. Black Opal is more valuable than crystal Opal, which in turn is generally more valuable than white/milky Opals
Fact 9 - The color is mainly determined and caused by the gem's selective absorption of certain wavelengths of light called the body color.
Fact 10 - The colors of the Opal gem consist of three components, the hue, tone and saturation:
The Hue which gives the first impression of the color
The Tone which relates to the the lightness or darkness of the color of the Opal ranging from light to medium to dark
The saturation which relates to the intensity of the Opal's color, which is measured from dull to strong to vivid
Fact 11 - The Opal group of stones contain 4 major types: Black, Crystal, Boulder and White/Milk
Fact 12 - All gemstones, including Opals, are graded by color, cut, clarity and carat weight
Fact 13 - The tradition of giving gifts of birthstone jewelry containing Opals dates back many hundreds of years
Fact 14 - There are specific birthstones and gemstones, such as Opals, which are traditionally given according to the month that a person is born
Fact 15 - Pure crystals of Opal are used as gemstones. The crystal structure of Opals is amorphous
Facts about Opals We have included a selection of trivia and interesting facts about Opals, this famous gemstone and birthstone. Most of these interesting facts about Opals are quite amazing and some are little known pieces of trivia! Many of these interesting and random pieces of information, facts and info will help you increase your knowledge on the subject of gemstones and birthstones.
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Interesting facts about Opals and info about precious jewelry and this gemstone and birthstone
Information, Stats and Interesting Facts about Opals
