FREE: 10Kt Gold .45ct Oval Opal w/ .005ct Diamond Accent

The listing, 10Kt Gold .45ct Oval Opal w/ .005ct Diamond Accent has ended.

Fascinating facts about opals you may not know.

-The word opal comes from the Latin word "opalus," meaning precious jewel, as well as upala, the Sanskrit name for precious stone.
-Giving an opal as a gift is a symbol of faithfulness and confidence. In addition to being the birthstone for October, the opal is given to celebrate a 14th wedding anniversary.
-The opal is a particular kind of mineral known as petrified silica gel. It is an ancient mineral found near the earth's surface where geothermal hot springs once existed.
-Opals come in many different colors from black to white and many bright colors in between. Some opals are a mixture of colors and have a tie-dyed look to them.
-Opals come in three subcategories: precious, fire and common. The rarest and most desirable are called precious opals. Black opals are the most valuable and desirable type of opal.
-Precious opals are the most common used for jewelry and contain a hydrous silicon dioxide material that causes it to flash iridescent colors when the opal is viewed from different angles. This is known as a "play of color" or "opalescence.”
-An opal’s desirability is based upon its color intensity, uniformity, pattern and play of color from different angles.
-Opals have been mined since Roman times. They were extracted from an area that is now the Czech Republic, as well as obtained from traders from the Middle East.
-The opal was called Cupid Paederos by the Romans, which translates to “a child as beautiful as love.”
-In ancient Rome, opals were considered a good luck charm and carried around. They were also ground up and consumed for their healing properties and ability to ward off bad dreams.
-The Roman senator Nonius once opted for exile rather than give up his opal to Marc Antony who wanted it for his infamous lover, Cleopatra.
-Shakespeare was a lover of opals and referred to them as "a miracle" and the "queen of gems.”