OCTOBER IS Opal Birthstone

Opal gemstones are truly unique because each individual gem is adorned with a one-of-a-kind color combination.

Opal is a hydrated silica, containing about 20% water. The finest opals originate in Australia, with Brazil and the US producing some interesting varieties. Fire Opal from Mexico and Blue Opal from Peru are also unique gemstones from the Western Hemisphere.

The crystal opal is transparent with a bright spectrum of colors while the fire opal is translucent with bold hues of yellow, orange and red. Opal gemstones with red hues against black are the rarest and the most expensive; the green and white opals are the commonest and the less expensive gemstones.