The birthstone for October is opal, which is associated with traits such as creativity and passion. This gemstone is iridescent, elusive, and utterly unique.
There are multiple varieties including black opal, the most valuable, as well as white opal, crystal opal, boulder opal and fire opal. Each one is a living canvas, shimmering with a multitude of colours that shift and ignite with every subtle movement.
Revered by royalty, for example Queen Victoria who gifted opals to her daughters, the finest opals originate in the remote outback of Australia, where time and nature conspire for millennia to create these rare treasures. Their play of colour, known as opalescence, is not just optical. This phenomenon is alchemy, turning silica and water into a display of fire and light. As light passes through the stone, it diffracts and bends, producing a kaleidoscope of shifting hues. This effect is entirely natural, and no other gemstone displays this effect so vividly.
Today, opals are the crown jewel of modern luxury. What makes them so special is that no two are ever alike, making them the ultimate expression of individuality and refinement. This is due to how they are formed; silica-rich rainwater seeps into the crevices of rocks, the water evaporates and it leaves behind layers of silica that slowly harden into opal. This process happens over millions of years, and means that each is a geological fingerprint.
Some interesting opal pieces in our October jewellery auction include lots 27, 38, 288 and 321.
There are multiple varieties including black opal, the most valuable, as well as white opal, crystal opal, boulder opal and fire opal. Each one is a living canvas, shimmering with a multitude of colours that shift and ignite with every subtle movement.
Revered by royalty, for example Queen Victoria who gifted opals to her daughters, the finest opals originate in the remote outback of Australia, where time and nature conspire for millennia to create these rare treasures. Their play of colour, known as opalescence, is not just optical. This phenomenon is alchemy, turning silica and water into a display of fire and light. As light passes through the stone, it diffracts and bends, producing a kaleidoscope of shifting hues. This effect is entirely natural, and no other gemstone displays this effect so vividly.
Today, opals are the crown jewel of modern luxury. What makes them so special is that no two are ever alike, making them the ultimate expression of individuality and refinement. This is due to how they are formed; silica-rich rainwater seeps into the crevices of rocks, the water evaporates and it leaves behind layers of silica that slowly harden into opal. This process happens over millions of years, and means that each is a geological fingerprint.
Some interesting opal pieces in our October jewellery auction include lots 27, 38, 288 and 321.
