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Opal
is October's Birthstone
If you're still young enough to remember
your birthday, you probably also remember
the special birthstone assigned to it. But
at your age, we bet you don't really know
the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and
what power the ancients felt would be bestowed
about you by wearing it.
October
Birthstone: Opal
Birthstone
Properties: Enhances insight and dispels
fear
Alternative
Birthstone: Tourmaline Opal is the birthstone
for October and the gemstone given to commemorate
a 14th wedding anniversary.
The word "opal" for this dynamic gemstone
was derived from the Greek word "opallus"
which means to see a change in color…because
it is, after all, opal's abilty to refract
and reflect specific wavelengths of light
that make it so special. In fact, there
are more than a dozen varieties of fiery
and iridescent opals. Opal is a non-crystallized
silica, a mineral found near the earth's
surface in areas where ancient geothermal
hot springs once existed. Romans called
the magnificent gemstone "Cupid Paederos,"
meaning a child as beautiful as love. They
believed that opals fell to earth from the
heavens in a flash of lightening.
However
they arrived in on Earth originally, today
opals must be mined from deposits found
primarily in Southern Australia, although
other sources exist in Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia,
and Nevada. Crown Jewels Opal has symbolized
hope, innocence and purity through the ages.
During the Middle Ages, fair-haired young
women put sapphires in their tresses to
protect the lovely blond color of their
hair. Physicians ground opals into a powder
that was ingested to ward off nightmares.
Since the 14th century, many cultures have
considered this stone to be an Eye Stone,
a stone that watches over royal families
as well as a stone that strengthens the
eyesight.
They
believed it to be the "king of gems" because
an opal holds within its fire all the colors
of the rainbow…and all other gems, as well.
And like many birthstones, opals were treasured
by ancient monarchs for their appearance
AND their powers. Opals were routinely set
into the crowns and necklaces of rulers
who believed the protective powers of the
gemstones would ward off evil. Writers of
the period believed the opal could render
its wearer invisible when the need arose.
The Russians had the complete opposite belief
in opals, viewing them as nothing but bad
luck..
Always
the Right Gift
A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness
and confidence. And the wide range of choices
in opal make them a perfect gift for anyone:
Black
Opal - the stone has a dark body tone in
comparison to a white opal. White Opal -
also known as 'milky opal', featuring light
white body tones
Boulder Opal - very dark and beautiful in
color
Crystal
Opal - any opal with a transparent or semi-transparent
body tone. Forms of crystal opal include
black crystal and white crystal.
Fire Opal - an American term meaning any
opal that displays a significant amount
of red coloring. Mexican fire opal is a
different kind of opal, which displays orange
coloring
About
the Author
For
more information on jewelry and gemstones,
we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com
to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy
Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped
Off." This concise, informative special
report reveals almost everything you ever
wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones,
but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report
at www.morninglightjewelry.com.
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