This article explains the spiritual nature of Opal. A walkthrough of its history and how Opal can benefit your life and free your inhibitions.

What is Opal’s spiritual power? How can it help me?

One of the rarest stones, Opal has often been associated with the mystical, the bizarre, the spiritual. This form of silica, with its dazzling colors and mesmerizing skin, was one of the most valuable gems in antiquity. In this article, we’re going to explore the metaphysical qualities of opal — coming to grips with its divine nature, incorporeal traits, and its ethereal properties. Opal is one of the most enigmatic stones in existence, and much of that mystery is due to its cryptic history. 

The spiritual nature of Opal — The rare story of Červenica

Opal's history, and part of its mystique, can be traced back to a cave in the outskirts of Kenya. Amid the 20th century, Louis Leakey, a famous anthropologist, uncovered in one of these crevices the earliest known opal artifact. More than 4000 years old, the artifact spoke volumes on why opal was such a rarefied stone and why it was so coveted by early Europeans -- and it can all be traced back to Červenica.

Before the rise of the Roman empire and its vast mining operations, Opal was a myth. It was a stone shrouded in legend and many believed it was nothing more than a fable. Unlike ruby, sapphire, emeralds, and diamonds, Opal was hard to come by and if a traveler ever did journey back to civilization with a sample of the gemstone, it was after they had collected it from a less primitive and much more savage region.

The Romans, one of the most advanced civilizations of its time, began a love affair with opal during the empire’s decline. They were certain that the gem bestowed its wearer the powers of foresight and prophesy, and it was often considered a token of purity and hope.

Mark Antony and his love affair with Opal

Ancient Rome created the first real market for the gemstone — and part of the trade and fascination by its citizens was on account of the gem’s use by noblemen and in the parliament. Mark Antony was enamored of opal. He would flaunt his collection in front of his subjects and shower his lover, Cleopatra, with all manner of jewelry constructed with opal.

Legend even has it that the statesman offered to trade one-third of the empire for a single piece of opal. Antiquity’s obsession with the stone was attributable not only to Opal’s beauty, but also to its rarity and mystical allure.

The Opal fields of Červenica

Today, opal is mainly extracted from Australia and Ethiopia, with some small opal fields in Nevada, Mexico, and, even, Mars — Back in the age of the Caesars, the only vast deposit of opal stood miles from the sanctity and civility of the Roman Empire. Opal could only be mined in a small section of Červenica, beyond the borders and protection of the Roman empire, on the frontier of Slovakia.

Opal specimen from Červenica, Slovakia, Image by Aramgutang

Červenica was a land fraught with savages, nomads, filled with wild tales, strange occurrences, dark un-penetrating forests. It was land covered in shadows and myths. A land that frightened even the Romans. Having Opal not only meant you had the money to buy the rarest gemstone, but it also signaled your willingness to wager everything for your ambitions — the cost of mining opal, back in those days, had to be paid with blood. Each small stone was most likely brought back by explorers and adventurers who had defied death.

Over time, this inherent danger, this extra tantalizing trait, began to increase opal’s spiritual worth. Every civilization began to endow the stone with all manner of supernatural qualities.

The Power of Love — The heart and Solar Chakra

In Indian superstition and most Tantric practices, opal is intricately tied to the heart chakra - particularly pink opal. It is an emotional stone that is supposed to reflect the mood and attitude of the wearer. Gurus and practitioners believe that opal releases inhibitions, unleashes emotions, encourages freedom and independence.

It is a powerful stone that allows users to access those niches and cubbyholes where love, passion, and lust reside. Opal is a seductive stone that intensifies emotions and breaks the shackles of our inhibition — granting us the freedom to express our deepest desires and our most wanton wishes. 

Types of Opal and how they benefit you

• Black Opal: helps us feel grounded, cemented onto the earth. Black opal makes us feel more stable and safe in this wild, vertiginous world.
• Ethiopian Opal: permits us to indulge in the sheer ecstasy of a moment. Grants us the peace of mind needed to embrace the moment.
• Fire-Opal: this variant galvanizes our sexuality, boosts our passion, gives free rein to our deepest desires.
• Pink Opal: opens our heart to love, trust, companionship.
• Green Opal: wards us against jealousy and resentment.
• Yellow Opal: connects us to our warrior spirit — unburdens us from fear’s limitations and allows us to reach our potential. 
• Violet Opal: strengthens our instincts, fortifies our intuitions, gives us faith to believe in ourselves and what our body is telling us subconsciously. 
• Blue Opal: eases communications, improves our sense of being, erases misgivings, and empowers our truth to flow.
• White Opal: bridges the gap between the real and the spiritual. It lets us connect with our higher consciousness, with the ethereal, with the supernatural. 

Blue Violet Opal Solstice Earrings by NIXIN Jewelry

The spiritual Nature of Opal

Opal is a potent spiritual anchor. It allows us to tap into parts of our being that swim right under the surface of who we are. To our subconscious. To those pieces, we have ignored, left behind, neglected. It grants us a bridge between the tangible and the spirit — connecting the schism and allowing us to be whole. 

Opal is an incredibly powerful gemstone. It is a stone whose very history envelops it in magic. To soothsayers in the Middle East, Opal isn’t even from this world. They believe that the gemstone fell from the heavens, on a star that crashed into Earth, bringing with it the might of the cosmos and the unknown.

Today we value rubies, emeralds, and diamonds, but in the age of the Pharaohs, Emperors, Sheiks, and Sultans, they were eclipsed by opal’s splendor.  Here at NIXIN Jewelry, we draw on the wisdom of our predecessors. Come find your splendor. 

Opal gemstones are one of the world’s most unique and mysterious precious stones, so it’s easy to understand why their history is full of myths and legends.

Opal myths and legends

Opal was once a highly prized gemstone by the ancient Romans – they believed it represented the combined beauty of all precious gems. The ancient Greeks believed opal came from the tears of Zeus, the God of lightning, after his defeat of the Titans. Similarly, Arabic legends say opal fell from the sky amid flashes of lightning. Sometimes cultures credited opal with supernatural origins and powers. For example, ancient Greeks believed opals gave their owners protection from disease, particularly skin disorders and eye ailments.

Perhaps one of the most interesting legends is that of the Indian Goddess of the Rainbow. It is said she was so beautiful that she became overwhelmed with the attention of male suitors. In a desperate act of escape, she turned herself into a stunning rainbow-colored opal. 

Today, opal remains prized for its vibrance and unique play-of-color (the ability to diffract light into flashes of rainbow color). The finest opals display all the colors of the spectrum over the stone’s entire surface.

Obscura Ombré Sapphire Lavender Opal Ring from NIXIN

Are opals bad luck?

You may have heard that wearing opals will bring you bad luck, but that’s simply untrue. Throughout history, opals were thought to bring the wearer good luck. In fact, ancient Romans believed opals were one of the luckiest gemstones in the world and considered them symbols of hope, fidelity and purity. During the mid 1300s, opals became associated with the Black Plague due to a rumor that a victim was wearing an opal that went dull after she passed. It’s more likely, however, that the opal simply deteriorated from neglect. Opals are softer and more porous than other gems but can last a lifetime with the proper opal care and attention.

They had another brief fall from grace after an 1829 novel written by Sir Walter Scott entitled Anne of Geierstein. At that time, it was customary for authors to release one chapter at a time. It was a story of a woman who is falsely accused of being a demoness and dies soon after a drop of holy water accidentally falls upon her opal, destroying its color. The public, having likely not read the entire book to learn she was actually poisoned, misinterpreted this as a warning from the author that opals may bring misfortune to whoever wears them. It was nearly 59 years before the reputation of opals was restored with the discovery of a breathtaking black opal found in South Wales, Australia.

Black Opal Broad Color Spectrum

Black opals are exceptionally rare and valuable, due to their dark body tone and the resulting vibrant play of color. To date, they have only been found in Australia however a similar aesthetic is sometimes fashioned using a doublet or triplet technique.  While also beautiful, doublets and triplets require different care than solid opals, given their layered formation.

If you’re looking for a crystal opal ring or lavender opal statement piece that will bring you years of enjoyment and maybe even a dash of good luck, visit our shop and explore our extraordinary selection of opal rings for women. Nicki, Founder and Designer of NIXIN Jewelry, meticulously transforms these vibrant gemstones into one-of-a-kind pieces fit for a goddess—like you.

Many people are drawn to the mystical flash of color for which opal rings are so well-known. They’re deliciously complex, yet surprisingly neutral which makes them the perfect companion for many other gemstones.

Australian opal has become more popular and has increased in value over the past decade. In fact, it is one of the most popular colored gemstones today.

Striations of Love Pipe Opal and Diamond Gold Ring by NIXIN

Whether you own a solid opal, doublet, or triplet, or are ready to shop for one, it’s important to learn how to take care of them so you can enjoy them for years to come. Opals are softer and more porous than other gems, but they can last a lifetime with the proper opal care and attention. 

Solid opal care guidelines

Opal is approximately the same hardness as glass, so it is important to treat it carefully to avoid damaging it. Here are a few important opal care do’s and don’ts:

Do

• Gently clean your solid opal jewelry with mild detergent, warm water, and a soft toothbrush or cloth.
• Remove your opal rings before applying any product; particularly those that may contain acid or alcohol (hair products, perfumes, hand sanitizers, lotions, etc.)
• Visit an experienced opal cutter if you have an opal that has become dull or scratched. They will be able to properly polish and restore your precious gemstone.
• Store your opal jewelry in a padded cloth bag when you aren’t wearing it. If you have individual jewelry boxes for your pieces, place it inside for added protection. For longer storage periods, place it in a cotton or wool cloth with a few drops of water and then put it into a sealed plastic bag. This will help prevent water from coming out of the stone.
• Follow a “last on, first off” rule to keep your opal rings vibrant for years to come. Opal should be the last thing you put on before an event or occasion and the first thing you take off and store appropriately when you return home.

Images by Ian Dooley, Superkitina

Don’t

• Wear your opal ring if there is any chance it could get scratched, damaged or broken. (Avoid wearing opal jewelry while exercising, working in the garden, doing the dishes, bathing, moving furniture, etc.)
• Fully immerse your doublet or triplet opal rings, earrings, or necklaces in water. This will help keep these precious gemstones healthy and vibrant.
• Leave your opal in a place where it could be subject to very high temperatures or low humidity (e.g., boiling water or zero humidity bank vaults).
• Use bleach, chemicals, or other harsh cleansers (including ultrasonic cleaners).

Opal doublet and triplet care guidelines

Opal care for doublets or triplets is a bit different from caring for solid opals. Opal doublets and triplets consist of multiple layers glued together. For this reason, prolonged exposure to water will eventually cause lifting between the layers allowing water to seep in. If this happens, your doublet or triplet will take on a ‘foggy’ or grey appearance and will likely result in permanent damage. Do not immerse your doublet or triplet opals in water for any significant length of time.

If you’re looking for an iconic ring or statement piece to help tell a swoon-worthy engagement story, celebrate a loved one, or simply to treat yourself, visit our shop and explore our extraordinary selection of opal rings for women.

Nicki, Founder and Designer of NIXIN Jewelry, selects one of a kind opal gemstones that deeply resonate with her and meticulously transforms them into spellbinding visuals meant for someone special. Come find the piece that’s meant for you.

Opals come in three different categories: doublets, triplets, and solid opals. Opal doublets and triplets are a beautiful and more affordable alternative to solid opals, but it is important to understand the differences between them to determine which option is most suitable to your lifestyle. Opal doublets and triplets are layered opals designed to enhance the appearance and perceived value of a thin or lighter piece of opal by gluing it to a dark backing, amplifying its unique play of color.

Identifying opal doublets, opal triplets, and solid opals

Let’s take a closer look at each type of opal and how to identify them:

Opal doublets

An opal doublet is a type of assembled gemstone composed of two layers: a piece of clear or translucent opal and, most often, a piece of black or dark potch (common) opal. The dark backing may also be black industrial glass, hard plastic, brown ironstone, or vitrolite. A doublet can be identified by looking at its side or edges. It will have a very clean, straight, and visible seam where the opal was glued to the black backing, whereas the edge around a solid opal will have a more organic, jagged delineation between colored precious opal and host rock. Doublets are commonly used to imitate a solid black opal because the black backing shows through the clear, solid opal resulting in darker and more vibrant colors. 

Opal doublet

Solid opal

Custom Boulder opal necklace from NIXIN

Opal triplets

An opal triplet is similar to an opal doublet in that it is also a thin slice of opal that’s been enhanced by a darker host rock; however, the solid opal is then magnified with a domed quartz or glass topper. This creates three layers to this type of opal – hence the name ‘triplet.’  The black backing does an excellent job of illuminating the play of color on the opal layer, which can really make the piece of jewelry stand out. Combining this with a glass topper not only protects the opal, but magnifies the intensity of the color and pattern, which can greatly enhance the overall appearance. Moreover, because the topper is made of synthetic materials, triplets have the benefit of a buffering layer from impact.

Opal triplet: Image by Mac's Opals

Here are three signs of an opal triplet:

1. A glue line where the solid opal meets the base.
2. A very thin layer of color sandwiched between a dark-colored potch opal and a dome of quartz or glass.
3. The opal top looks glassy, and the color does not travel to the top of the gemstone.

Solid opals

Natural solid opals are the most valuable because they are cut from only the natural stone without any treatment or enhancement. There have not been any man-made clear tops or backing glued to them. While all opal should be handled with care, solid opals are generally more durable than doublets or triplets because they are composed of one solid piece of opal, rather than a thin layer of natural opal adhered to additional materials.  Three of the most predominant types of solid opal include light and crystal opal, Boulder opal, and Black opal. 

Exhale lavender Boulder opal rose gold ring by NIXIN

How to care for opal doublets and opal triplets

Opal doublets and triplets can be beautiful and more cost-effective alternatives to solid opal gemstones. However, it is important to understand how to care for them to avoid damage. Doublets and triplets are made of multiple layers that have been glued together, so exposure to water will eventually cause lifting between the layers and water damage. If this happens, they will start to appear ‘foggy’ or grey and the layers can separate completely.  While opal doublets can be just as striking in appearance as solid opals, a doublet can also be more susceptible to damage, given its very thin layer of opal atop the potch. This is something to take into consideration when deciding whether to opt for a doublet or a solid opal in your opal jewelry.

To care for these pieces, doublets and triplets may be wiped with a soft, damp cloth and mild detergent, but should never be soaked or submerged in water. You should also avoid bleach, chemicals, cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners, avoid blunt force and remove these pieces before any rigorous activity.  While chemical exposures and blunt force should also be avoided with solid Australian Opals, solids should not be damaged by immersion in water.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind work of art that speaks to your heart and captures your unique story of strength, perseverance, or love, visit our shop and explore our extraordinary selection of opal rings for women. Nicki, Founder and Designer of NIXIN Jewelry, selects only the most striking opal gemstones and transforms them into mesmerizing visuals that will delight your eyes and ignite your soul.

The word opal notoriously conjures images of rainbows and colorful flashes. But not all opal aligns with this visual; it speaks to precious opal, but largely neglects non-precious opal which accounts for a great deal of the opal recovered from mining.

Opal is formed from a solution of silicon dioxide and water. As rainwater trickles down through the fissures in the earth it picks up silica from sandstone along the way. Next, the now silica-rich solution settles into cracks and voids of all sizes. Over a long period of time the water evaporates and leaves behind a beautiful silica deposit we call opal.

Opal is composed of uniform spheres of silica, which assemble in a grid-like structure. The spaces between these spheres contain the silica solution. As light passes through the spheres and into this silica solution, it is diffracted, producing an alluring rainbow of vibrant hues.

Both precious and non-precious opal is mined from these crevices and while both are quite beautiful, they are very different from one another.

Light Diffraction Through Silica Spheres, Image by Open Australia

Precious vs. non-precious opal

Precious opal is the term used for any opal that exhibits a “play-of-color” or iridescence. This means as light illuminates the inner contours of the opal, it’s diffused or dispersed throughout the silica spheres to create a brilliant prism of spectacular color. Other examples of things that exhibit this play-of-color or iridescence are soap bubbles, feathers, butterfly wings, and seashell nacre. 

If you’ve been following NIXIN Jewelry for a while, you may recall our email about the Papilio Blumei Ring, inspired by an Indonesian butterfly, that described this precise effect. If you'd like to join our mailing list, add your email address to the bottom of our homepage.

Papilio Blumei Ring by NIXIN

Non-precious opal, also called common or “potch” opal, does not exhibit a play-of-color like precious opal and is often milky in appearance. Common opal is typically gray, black, white, or amber in color, but it also occurs naturally in a variety of beautiful colors including a range of lovely pastels. Non-precious opal is found in the same environments as precious opal but is considered less valuable. Depending on the appearance of the potch, a miner or cutter may opt to use it, given the beautifully unique patterns that can result when potch is woven into precious opal, as in the example below.

Boulder Opal with Caramel Colored Potch

Precious Opal, Image by James St. John

How is opal valued?

It is notoriously difficult to value opals because there are so many factors to consider, and they vary so widely in appearance and quality. There are three main aspects that determine whether an opal is precious (highly valuable) or non-precious (less valuable):

• Color
  Body tone (color) is one of the most important factors in the classification and valuation of opals and refers to its overall background or underlying color. Black opal, white opal, crystal opal, boulder opal and matrix opal are all varieties of precious opal, which is also called noble opal. Generally, opals with darker backgrounds are more valuable than those with a lighter background because stones with darker backgrounds offer a more vibrant display or play of colors. Under the right circumstances, the color red, a rarer find, can also drive up the value of an opal.
• Pattern
  Distinct color that is displayed in a pattern or pattern segments further determines the quality of an opal. Excellent pattern types include uniform color segments, straight edges, large sections of color in a random pattern, parallel cascading lines of narrow, rolling color or thin strips of overlapping color that may or may not resemble an object, landscape, animal, or person.
• Clarity
  The size and quantity of inclusions (small imperfections) can detract from the value of an opal. Imperfections may include cracks, grains of sand or other minerals, potch lines, webbing (gray lines), and windows (sections without color).

Sometimes, potch can even “paint” incredible pictures within an otherwise precious opal, blurring the lines between what’s deemed valuable by traditional industry standards and what is viewed as a treasure in the eye of the beholder.  Here at NIXIN, we readily embrace a combination of qualities in these sublime stones, as long as the final result is uniquely beautiful.

Lightening Ridge Black Crystal Opal Necklace by NIXIN

NIXIN Jewelry curates an extraordinary selection of opals to offer the most stunning, collection of handcrafted Australian opal rings for women. We offer a variety of sizes and styles so you’re sure to find one that takes your breath away. Shop our precious opal ring collection, and don’t forget to explore our equally spellbinding necklaces and earrings.

It’s time to get lost in a galaxy of brilliant colors.

Have you ever wondered about the science behind the splendor? How those incredible shifting rainbows are created inside of stone? Opals are formed from a mineral known as silica, specifically hydrated amorphous silica. Silica is a common mineral found in soil, sand, granite, concrete, rock, and many other natural materials. Hydrated amorphous silica simply means that opal has a high water content.

Opal is found in many places like Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, and the Western US, however Australia produces 95% of the world’s precious opal. NIXIN Jewelry sources nearly all of our precious opal from Australia, working with material like boulder opal from Winton, Queensland to crystal opal from famed Lightning Ridge and from Coober Pedy, the Opal Capital of the World.

How does opal form?

Opal is found deep in the Earth’s crust near faults, cracks, or fissures. It is believed that around 30 million years ago a large amount of silica was released and filled in these cracks. In fact, fossil evidence suggests that Australia used to be under the ocean. Some of those fossils were replaced by silica and formed what we call Shell Opal and Opalized Belemnites (ancient squid-like creatures).

Opalized Belemnite, Photo by James St. John

Like ocean water, rainwater also contains small amounts of silica (among other minerals) and collects more as it falls onto soil, sand, granite, and concrete. Over time the silica, which has a spherical chemical structure, settles into perfectly stacked spheres along these fissures. This symmetrical, three-dimensional array creates diffraction and interference, which is what produces the brilliant opal colors we all know and love. The range of colors depends on the size of the silica spheres as well as the refraction at the surface of the opal. A mere 1cm of opal can take up to 6 million years to form; though slow to grow, the resulting myriad of colors is breathtaking.

How is opal mined?

While a range of mining methods are employed, much opal is mined by shaft sinking or shaft mining, which means a vertical tunnel is excavated from the top down until some promising “opal dirt” is discovered. Once opal is discovered, a miner then slowly branches out sideways using a hand pick or screwdriver to carefully extract any opal they found. Opals are delicate gemstones, and should be handled with care from extraction and transporting to designing and wearing, but when cared for properly, they can last a lifetime.

NIXIN Jewelry has relationships with opal suppliers across the globe, working directly with the miners who extract this spectacular material from the earth, as well as with the talented artisans who cut these beautiful gems, revealing the colorful secrets within. When you purchase opal jewelry from NIXIN Jewelry, you can feel confident knowing you are supporting a network of small businesses and skilled artisans around the world who love what they do.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of art that evokes emotion and tells your unique story of strength, perseverance, or love let NIXIN Jewelry guide you through our selection of precious opal rings for women. Nicki, Founder and Designer of NIXIN Jewelry, selects only the most striking opal gemstones and transforms them into spellbinding visuals meant to awaken your soul. Each opal ring is dressed in 14K gold and paired with carefully curated precious gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds that echo the translucent shades of the opal.

NIXIN Jewelry offers a stunning, bespoke collection of handcrafted Australian opal rings, necklaces and earrings in an array of sizes and styles.

Visit our shop to start living your life—in color.