Culture

Opalus October's Birthstone

By Isabelle Leicester
5th October 2009

Opal or opulas is known as the birthstone for the month of October.

Since precious stones are gage not only for its beauty, gems have long been related to bring the wearer power and wealth and also misfortune. We have also heard or read stories that Atlantis was destroyed by the incorrect use of quartz crystals an energy stone. There are those who vouched that these precious stones and semi precious stones, when practised correctly can help in spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.

Birthstones, commonly as called precious stones, on the hand is believed to originate from biblical times like, 'The Breastplate of Aaron' which carried twelve gemstones separated into rows each representing the Sons of Israel. Although it was said that the Bible mentions many gemstones, including quartz, debate has often been sparked as to which gemstone was used in the Breastplate of Aaron. According to some translations of the Bible it was the sixth stone, the third stone of the second row which is the diamond. However, certain scholars have argued that the sixth stone is the quartz crystal because the diamond only came about in 800 B.C.

For centuries, folks were told that wearing a birthstone associated with your date of birth was thought to bring good luck and protection. However, the generation today sees these gems as nothing more than a fashion or a great gift for birthdays for anniversaries apart from the investment value precious gems like diamonds, rubies sapphires and so on can fetch.

Here in Indonesia, it is common to see men wearing a big ring stone. The purpose of the Indonesian men wearing a stone ring is not because of its monetary value but rather the ring has been spiritually filled with energy to bring about an important position, to protect oneself or to obtain wealth. Birthstones, its colours, and meaning its not the main literature for them but surely a ring prayed or chanted over by a paranormal. Many male Member of the Indonesian Parliament wears a huge semi precious stone ring. Laugh as we might but it is true (although they would definitely deny the meaning behind the stone ring). Nonetheless, most paranormals in Indonesia have big mouths and often reveal which high ranking officer or a member of parliament has seen them and now wears a stone ring energised by them.

This is a specimen of golden opal which fills the cracks of this specimen and thickly covers part of one surface. It shows no play of colours.

The Opal as October's birthstone

Opa 46 During the fourteenth century the Opal then known as the Ophthalmius, or Eye Stone, was believed to sharpen and strengthen the eyesight, passing an opal over the brow was to strengthen the memory.

Although the opal especially in the East is regarded as a scared stone, the opal was also said to bring golden opamisfortune like the story that befell Anne of Geierstein, "The Maiden of the Mist written by Sir Walter Scotts. It was also said that giving an opal ring as an engagement brought ill love luck and misfortune.

The name of October's birthstone comes from the Sanskrit word, upala, meaning precious gem. From the Sanskrit came the Greek word, opalios, and the Latin, opalus. October's birthstone suggests the turn of leaves, gold, yellow, red, in the autumn months.

An opal contains the full color range like a rainbow with a white light broken into many hues and is a mineraloid. This is because the structure of the opal is not a hundred percent crystalline. The chemistry of Opal is primarily SiO2 with varying amounts of water that can help geologists determine the temperature of the host rock at the time the opal formed.

Most opal comes from Australia, from Mexico and the Western United States. When choosing an opal it is also relevant to note that not all opal is declared as precious. The common opal lacks the opalescence and has been found to be an imitation.

Birth Stone Monthly List.