| Imagine holding in your hand a kind of stone that | | | | gemstones. For instance, Greeks believed that |
| has the magical power to show you all the colors | | | | opal gave whoever wore it the ability of |
| of the rainbow with just one look. I am sure you | | | | prescience or forethought - foresight, simply put. |
| will agree that the sight can be pretty | | | | Romans, on the other hand, believed opal |
| overwhelming. Opal is just that. A precious stone | | | | symbolized hope and purity, hence, they wore |
| primarily found in mining areas in Southern | | | | opals in their crowns. They also believed that it |
| Australia and quite a few from Nevada all the | | | | warded off diseases and sicknesses. During the |
| way to Czechoslovakia among others, opal | | | | Middle Ages, people wore opal because they |
| reflects a multitude of colors that gives the | | | | believed it would be helpful to their eyesight. |
| impression you are looking at the colors of a | | | | Others even believed that once you wore it, you |
| rainbow on close range. The first opal mines, | | | | would be rendered invisible! On a more serious |
| however, were found in what is currently called | | | | note, some cultures in the 14th century regarded |
| Eastern Slovakia, but its well has long since run | | | | opal as the "Eye Stone" because they believed |
| dry. But if you are looking for fire opal, these are | | | | that it watches over them, royalties in particular. |
| mostly found in Mexico. White, also known as | | | | Some even thought of it as the ruler of all gems |
| milky opal, and black ones are more abundant in | | | | because of its ability to absorb all colors of the |
| Australia. | | | | rainbow. Legends in ancient Arab believe that |
| Opal is most popularly known as the birthstone of | | | | opals got their display of different colors from |
| those born in October and is usually given as a | | | | lightning flashes from heaven, believing that opals |
| 14th wedding anniversary gift. Napoleon Bonaparte | | | | fell from heaven. However popular it was, opal |
| was said to have given his wife Josephine "The | | | | somewhat lost its "charm" when a widely-read |
| Burning of Troy" opal as a gift. | | | | novel pictured opal as an unlucky stone. But the |
| As in other precious stones, opal symbolizes a lot | | | | stigma did not last, and opal won back its |
| of ancient beliefs, which today may still be | | | | popularity among the collectors' circle and possibly |
| regarded as symbols of such by true lovers of | | | | every gem lover. |