While every gemstone is gorgeous in its own right, there’s something about the ‘Queen of Gems’ that delights people all over the world.
Today, we’re going to talk about this remarkable jewel and highlight the interesting reason that led to its prestigious title.
First things first…which jewel is the ‘Queen of Gems’?
The answer is Opal.
This royal moniker was originally bestowed on the stone during the ancient era when people were awed by its play-of-color.
As Roman historian Pliny stated, “For in them you shall see the living fire of the ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light.”
More about the Opal
The opal is a semi-precious gem that is also the official birthstone for the month of October. It is famed for its kaleidoscopic play-of-color, an optical illusion that causes the jewel to flash different patterns and colors in reaction to light. This attribute makes each opal different from the other.
Another interesting fact about this stone is that around 97% of the world’s supply comes from Australia.
Types of Opal
Thought there was just one type of opal you could choose from? Well, that’s far from the truth. As a consumer, we can enjoy mind-boggling variants of the ‘Queen of Gems’. Below we’ve mentioned the top six.
1. Black Opal
Did you know? This is the rarest type of opal. It can be translucent to opaque and is defined by a dark background color. This is the reason why the play-of-color showcased by this stone really stands out. The contrast of hues is nothing short of breathtaking, which greatly adds to the overall value of this gem.
2. White or Light Opal
This is the most common type of opal available in the market and can range from colorless to light grey. The intensity of the body color affects the visibility of the flashes of hues seen on these stones. Simply put, the play-of-color will be more vivid on a translucent or light opal as compared to an opaque white opal.
3. Boulder Opal
This particular variant has the host rock as a part of the gemstone, hence the name. These opals are usually born within the voids or cracks of the host rock and their specimen clearly shows this part of their origin.
4. Matrix Opal
As the name suggests, this type of opal showcases a network of streaks or in-between smudge grains of the ferruginous sandstone. In its natural state, the matrix opal generally demonstrates beautiful colors and is a spectral delight.
5. Water Opal
This is a transparent to semi-transparent variant of opal in which the play-of-color really comes to life thanks to the stone’s clear background. Also known as crystal opals, they’re in demand because of their visually enticing look that showcases a spectrum of hues in their complete glory.
6. Fire-Opal
Like the black opal, this variant too is extremely rare and much in demand. Fire opals get their warm body color, ranging from yellow and orange to red, due to the high iron content present in their composition. Most of these stones are transparent or translucent in nature.
Keep in Mind
The opal is a delicate gem with a rating of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It is therefore recommended to reserve the ‘Queen of Gems‘ for major events and occasions.
Also Read - Which is the Rarest Opal Color
