Opal is recognized as October’s birthstone. It is an organic substance formed in the mineral rich earth. Opal, like glass, is non-crystalline, dissimilar from most gemstones. It is basically a silicate, 85-99% pure, with the chemical formula SiO2nH2O. The word opal originates from the Latin word "opalus".

Opal is only found in a handful of regions throughout the world, with Australia as the dominant supplier at a production rate of 94%.

A prevailing factor of an opal’s worth tends to be its intensity of the given hue. The hue itself is most likely the next considered factor. There is a hierarchy of hues. It is generally agreed that red is the top color followed by orange and ending with green, however in countries like Japan, the blues and greens are preferred.

The opal is very distinctive within the world of gemstones. Many gem collectors develop a true passion for opals. The interest in opals is not limited to the vast rainbow of obtainable colors and individuality of every stone but also the many legends and folklore related to them. The Greeks and Romans believed the stones to be of good luck. This stone was also associated with mystical powers. Marbodius, Bishop of Rennes, an ecclesiastical writer and hymnologist, in the year 1035 at Angers, France, declared the opal as the patron stone of thieves; claiming it gave the wearer the power of invisibility.

However it is Australian where the most fascinating and wide spread stories are still told. The Australian miners of today still find long striations within the rocks in a rainbow of colors. These miners whose country is a major source for opals refer to the opal as the Rainbow Serpent, translated from the mythological creature of the Aborigines. The name makes perfect sense, as the Aborigines believed that this mythological creature left a rainbow colored trail as it moved across the geography of Australia and those that came across the serpent’s trail believed their lives were protected. The Rainbow Serpent was considered "the agent of destiny" for the Aborigines. Known as their powerful and compassionate protector, it was closely associated to land, water and fertility. It was believed to dwell beneath the earth in the northern part of the continent. The rainbow serpent protected the nomadic people from the mythological and infamous Bunyip, the evil one banished from the Aboriginal tribe, only to return as an evil spirit to bring death It was believed that the opal held the power to protect those who worn it. There are an infinite number of stories and variations associated with the Rainbow Serpent, all of which speak of its power, the Opal.

The care of the opal both to parade its beauty, as well as, maintain its long-term integrity is very important. There are two different practices; both are commonly practiced in the opal fields. The first is submerging them in water and the other method is their submergence in glycerin. Some keep their opals immersed in oil. Although small amounts of oil rubbed into the surface of a wear-pitted stone may temporarily enhance the appearance of the stone, oil and water do not mix so oil immersion is not recommended. Glycerin is actually a drying agent and although its immediate effect may seem positive it may have a long-term negative effect on the gemstone.

The beauty and individuality of each opal is wonderful but with this comes a gem that should be handled with care. On the Moh's scale an opal rates typically as a 5 to 6½. Toughness is not this gem’s strong suit; opals are characteristically brittle and subject to chipping. Gem opal contains between 6-18% water. Water content is important because it directly relates to the gemstone’s stability; the higher the water content, the less stable, resulting in a higher predisposition to crack.

It is very important to use care when setting any opal; improper setting of opal in jewelry is a major reason for chipping or cracking. Prong setting of opal in rings is a common practice. By many jewelers not well versed in opals, unfortunately, it is a prescription for tragedy. The exposed edges of a prong set opal are more likely to chip. Here at DSN we usually recommend a bezel setting for opals to avoid any mishaps.