Opals, are they unlucky?

by Malika Jayasinghe

Are opals unlucky and do they possess ominous powers? Mark Anthony gave one to Cleopatra, a Roman Senator preferred to go into exile rather than part with his beloved opals and Queen Victoria was determined to embellish the crown jewels with the inclusion of at least one opal.

Yet no other gem, priced for its mysterious beauty, has had such a bad reputation as an opal. Many believe that owning one could spell doom. 'If it is your birthstone you are safe. Otherwise they are terribly unlucky,' says a reputed jeweller.

During the Middle Ages these beautiful stones were considered a powerful cure-all in medicinal rites, while in the East they have been considered 'anchors of hope.'

Furious

It was Sir Walter Scott who put a hex on the stone when he wrote his novel Anne of Geierstein in which the central character owned one. It flickered gaily when she was happy, then turned an angry red when she was furious, and when the moody woman died her body along with the opal ring she wore turned to ashes.

There is an instance of a girl who received an opal ring for her engagement. Full of foreboding she fixed the wedding for Friday the 13. The wedding never took place. Even spirits are supposed to flee at the sign of a cross set with black opals.

Pendants

Queen Victoria tried to restore them to favour by presenting each of her daughters with a set of opal jewellery but she never really got around to it. These shimmering glittering gems that imprison the changing colours of the rainbow exude feelings of life and warmth while conveying at the same time the idea that they are malevolent and therefore carriers of misfortune.

Yet jewellery designers the world over enjoy using these stones on pendants and brooches for they possess a radiance that changes hue with the flick of a wrist or a simple turn of the head.

They believe they have a beauty comparable to the dazzling waters of the Caribbean.

Opals are not as valuable as other gems primarily because of their high water content. Gemmologists say that great care has been taken with opals for they craze or crack because of dehydration. This is one reason why they must never be exposed to excessive heat.

The way to judge an opal is by the play of colour. The more red flashes an opal has the more valuable it is. Of the four main species the white is thought of as the least valuable. A black one could cost anything up to $ 5,000 per carat while some fetch over 300,000 a major find that would enable a prospector to retire for life.

Pattern

A necklace made with boulder-shaped opal inlays that are arranged in a snake-like pattern and has the effect of a shimmering aquamarine creature is sold today for about 50,000 dollars.

Australia, the country of its origin is the world's chief source of opals while Hong Kong is the major cutting centre for these stones.

In spite of the idea that opals are unlucky they continue to grow in value and if bought wisely could be as good an investment as any other gem of high quality.