Birthstone Month October - Opal

There are lots of interesting gifts for this birthstone month. The October birthstone is an opal. The opal may also be used to represent the 12th and 14th wedding anniversary.

We hope these suggestions will help you...

Opal Jewelry

There are many pieces of jewelry to choose from, including pendants, earrings and rings. Create your own to make it a more personal gift.

Opal Cuff Links

Find a nice pair of opal cuff links for the man in your life. A matching tie pin will make this a great gift for someone.

Birthstone Month October - Opal Vases

Opalescent vases are available and look attractive whatever the color flower in them.

Flowers

Purchase a bouquet of flowers in pale blues, pinks and creams. A mixture of all three colors will look very effective.

Books with Opal

For the bookworm find a book with opal in the title, such as 'Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception' by Eoin Colfer. Or maybe a selection of poetry such as 'Opal Sunset: Selected Poems, 1958-2008' by Clive James might be a suitable gift for someone.

CDs with Opal

There are many albums with opal in the title or in the name of the artist. For example 'Opal Fire' by Omar.

Interesting Facts About Opals

Opals come in varied colors showing beautiful opalescence. They are hydrated silicon dioxide. The water content is sometimes as high as 20% but is usually between 3% and 10%. It may be regarded as a form of solidified jelly. Opal ranges from colorless through white, milky blue, gray, red, yellow, green, brown and black. The word opal means 'precious stone'. Given the texture of opals, they can be difficult to polish to a reasonable luster.

Around 95% of the world's opal comes from Australia. The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source. Common, water, jelly, and the beautiful fire opal are found mostly in Mexico and Mesoamerica. Lightning Ridge, another Australian town, in New South Wales, is the main source of black opal. An opal containing a predominantly dark background.

The Romans used opals which possibly came form Czechoslovakia where it occurs in the crevices of andesite (a fine grained rock free from quartz) found near hot springs.

The opal is the official gemstone of South Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia.

The state gem stone for Nevada is the precious black opal, which is named after the true black opal found in Virgin Valley, Humboldt County, Nevada.

The opal may also represent the zodiac sign of Gemini.

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