Opal | October Birthstone| Fellows Blog

As October arrives, so does the chance to have a good time one of the mesmerising gems: The opal.

Opals are fashioned from silica gel that fills cracks and cavities in rocks. Over time, this gel hardens to create the opal, the play of color outcomes from gentle diffraction by way of the stone’s silica spheres. Australia is the main supply of opals, identified for its wealthy deposits of those gems. You could find this gemstone in Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, and the US too. The biggest opal ever found is the ‘Olympic Australis,’ it has remained uncut and in its pure state, weighing an enormous 17,000 carats.

Historical past of Opal

Opal has been admired for hundreds of years and holds completely different meanings in numerous cultures. The traditional Romans valued opals as symbols of hope and purity, believing they supplied safety from sickness. In medieval Europe, opals had been seen nearly as good luck charms, thought to include the powers of all gems due to their vibrant iridescence. Nonetheless, within the nineteenth century, opals gained a fame for dangerous luck, partly as a result of novel Anne of Geierstein by Sir Walter Scott. In Aboriginal Australian legend, opals had been believed to carry the spirit of their creator, who touched the earth and turned stones into glowing rainbows. All through historical past, opals have been surrounded by each constructive and superstitious beliefs, including to their mysterious allure. Opals are nonetheless celebrated to today for his or her distinctive magnificence and stay a well-liked selection for October birthstone items, symbolising creativity and emotional enrichment.

Varieties of Opal

With regards to opals, there are two fundamental sorts:  

Treasured: This kind shows a spectacular play-of-colour and contains varieties corresponding to black, boulder, and crystal opal.

Widespread: Missing the play-of-colour seen in valuable opals, widespread opal varieties embrace pink, blue, and hearth opal.

Opals proceed to be a favorite on the earth of nice jewelry. Their distinctive play-of-colour and particular person traits make each bit particular, whether or not it’s a hoop, necklace, earring, or bracelet.

Opal in Public sale

Lot 19

Victorian opal & diamond brooch

Estimate: £320 – £420

Lot 283

Edwardian 18ct gold opal & diamond gown ring

Estimate: £100 – £150

Lot 406

Opal and diamond ring

Estimate: £150 – £200

Lot 658

Opal coronary heart brooch

Estimate: £120 – £180

Lot 708

Opal, cut up pearl & ruby brooch

Estimate: £90 – £140

Lot 1232

Opal ring

Estimate: £180 – £260

Jewelry Day One | Monday twenty third September 2024

Jewelry Day Two | Tuesday twenty fourth September 2024

Viewing occasions (ID required):

Birmingham

Friday twentieth September 10:00-16:00

Digital viewings can be found by request. Digital viewings are the final word private purchasing expertise. Utilizing Zoom, you possibly can ask us no matter you might want to know to purchase with confidence. Discover out extra right here.

Discover what you’re on the lookout for

Be sure to don’t miss discovering that particular one thing by signing as much as our e mail alerts. You’ll be the primary to know when catalogues change into accessible, obtain invites to particular occasions and preview the most well liked heaps from our auctions, plus far more.

Why not use our free private purchasing service? Join lot alerts and inform us precisely what you’re on the lookout for. Every time we add a listing, we seek for your key phrases and e mail you heaps matching your pursuits. Your personalised e mail will embrace photographs, lot descriptions and public sale particulars.

Sophie Baldwin | Advertising Assistant