Opal’s name comes from the Sanskrit word “Upala”, which means precious stone. Dating back centuries, Opal has a rich history and is well-known in the gemstone world for a variety of reasons.
In Indian mythology, the virgin Goddess of the Rainbow was made into an Opal by the Mother Goddess because she was being chased by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who were becoming infatuated with her. Ancient Greeks believed the stone could give individuals the gift of prophecy and protect them from disease. In Roman times, the Latin word “Opalus” started to be used.
In today’s world, Opal is associated with October (as the birthstone) and is also the gemstone of the 14th marriage anniversary. Some people say that it is unlucky for people who were not born in October to wear Opal, but on the other hand the gemstone has long been valued as an omen of luck and magic. Additionally, Opal is an alternative birthstone for April babies.
Some folklore suggests that Opal can bring bad luck and may even be evil, but experts say that ideology is ridiculous. The truth is that the bad elements of the Opal’s reputation stem from one man, Sir Walter Scott. He wrote a bestselling novel where the heroine, who is falsely accused of being a demoness, dies shortly after a bit of holy water falls onto her Opal and destroys the color. People took that to mean that the author was warning of the bad luck an Opal brings, and the demand for the stone dropped off significantly. In fact, history tells us that Sir Walter Scott and his story succeeded in basically destroying the European Opal market for almost 50 years.
Now, people have moved far beyond this belief and appreciate Opal for its beauty and healing properties. It’s often used in jewelry design and for other uses like meditation.