Opal has been revered through time as a symbol of hope, fidelity, and purity. The ancient Romans admired Opal for its color, as it encompasses the colors of all other gems. Today, opal is still prized for its unique play-of-color, the ability to diffract light into flashes of rainbow color.
The October birthstone’s dramatic play-of-color has inspired writers to compare it to fireworks, galaxies and volcanoes. Bedouins, a group of nomadic Arab people, once believed opal held lightning and fell from the sky during thunderstorms. Ancient Greeks thought opals bestowed the gift of prophesy and protection from disease. Europeans long maintained opal to be a symbol of purity, hope and truth. Hundreds of years ago, opal was believed to embody the virtues and powers of all colored stones.
Opal is also the stone given to celebrate the 14th wedding anniversary.