Opal

Your guide to wearing Opal

Opal is a precious gemstone and its name is derived from “Upala,” which is a Sanskrit word literally meaning “precious gems.” In astrology, Opal is a birthstone for those born in the month of October and depicts the planet Venus. It is a significant gemstone that attracts luxuries, beauty, charm, riches and excellence in one’s life. Opal gemstone is specifically useful for those who are in exports and imports business or tourism and travel services. This stone is a true example of nature’s capacity to showcase the best things in world.

Opal meaning

Opal gemstone is a true visual treat to the eyes of beholder.  One can see brilliance of all colours in this gemstone and all these can be visible to the naked eyes. Upala is a composition of mainly Silica and 3-10% water. It is among the rare and perhaps the only gemstones where all colours can be seen to the naked eyes. Opal was created and formed some millions of years ago when the silica gel got trapped between several layers of host rock and hardened eventually.

Where can you find Opal/ Upala?

Normally, Opal can be found across the entire globe.

Australia

However, when you want to buy best Opal in the world, you should look for Ethiopian, Mexican or Australian opal. Australian opal gemstone is the richest source and is cited as the largest supplier of this precious gemstone. In fact, about 95-97% of opal gemstone comes from Australia.

Other Sources

Some of the other origins of opal gemstone include Turkey, Indonesia, Australia, Honduras, Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, Slovakia, Hungary, Japan, U.S. and Canada.

Opal properties

Pure opal is absolutely colourless and almost impossible to find. In fact, the impurities in Upala give it the richness of colours like blue, red and black. This gemstone is brittle and soft and therefore requires extra care while handling. Naturally, Opal contains water in huge quantity and therefore when exposed to heat, the water dries and it leads to cracks of breakage. This process of fracture-like lines creation and breaking due to exposure of heat is called crazing. Opal/ Upala is therefore, mostly stored in water. Those who keep this gemstone in vaults wrap it in moist cloth.

Best Quality Opal

Upala or Opal is suggested by astrologers to individuals according to their malefic and benefic planet placement in the birth chart. When they suggest you to buy this gemstone, you must note what makes a gemstone good.

Colour- Play of Colours is a unique characteristic of Opal. This means that the gemstone must have the colour of fire. It is a unique and spectacular display of vivid colours. Play of Colours is visible in Upala because of its internal composition because of a periodic pattern placement of silica spheroids. Another characteristic of Opal is called Opalescence and it is a phenomenon that displays blue and milky white opal. When you buy real ones, it is important to understand which particular phenomenon is suggested to you by the astrologer because both these concepts are different from each other.

Clarity- Opal gemstone should be absolutely clear and pure in appearance devoid of spots or internal inclusions.

Shape and Cut- From astrology point of view, the shape and cut of upala have no importance as such. This is generally only from the ornamental perspective.

Varieties –There are wide varieties of Opal stones, which include Black, White, Blue, Green, Fire, Boulder, Crystal, Matrix, Pink, Morado, Harlequin, Cat’s Eye Opal, Triplet Opal and Doublet Opal. Potch is the most commonly found variety with almost negligible Play of Colours.

Astrological benefits of Opal

Upala is significant for Venus planet and is prescribed in a few conditions only. It is prescribed by astrologers only when the planet is favourable but isn’t well placed in horoscope. The planetary power of Opal is immense and can bring about favourable changes in one’s life. It is quite ironic, but as a matter of fact Opal gemstone brings about all luxuries and pleasures in life and then detaches an individual from all of these. The mind starts getting tuned more towards spirituality and moksha. Here are some of the astrological benefits of this gemstone-

ª      Opal gemstone benefits wearer with immense satisfaction and concord in relationships

ª      Helps in achieving luxury, charm, art and grace

ª      Helps people in fields of theatre, dancing, painting and music, immense popularity and luxuries

ª      Upala benefits in improving marital and love life

ª      Brings stability in troubled married life

ª      Improves urinary system, kidney ailments and benefits endocrine system by maintain balance among hormonal secretion

Caring for Opal

ü  One must be extremely careful with this gemstone since it is very delicate to handle

ü  Keep Opal away from fire, ultrasonic cleaner

ü  Avoid sudden change of temperature, such as moving from colder area to sudden high temperatures

Play of Colours in Opal is mainly because of amorphous silica gel, which gives it a glittery oomph. Presence of water in this gemstone makes it extremely delicate and difficult to maintain, but a little extra care can help you through.

Price of Opal

Opal cost depends largely on its weight and colour. Australian opal can cost anywhere from Rs. 700 per carat to Rs. 3700 per carat. White Australian variety is usually the first choice from astrology perspective. The price of White Australian Opal can be anywhere above Rs. 3700 per carat. Lower cost of opal is also available, but that would mean compromising on the quality, which is not astrologically correct. White Opal with Play of Colours can be expensive, but have better astrological effects. Black opal can start from Rs. 1100 per carat.

 It must be noted that this gemstone isn’t expensive, unlike diamond. Normally, Opal per carat can begin from Rs. 700 per carat and can go up to Rs. 7000 per carat, depending upon various attributes. From the point of view of astrology, this stone must be worn on the day suggested by your astrologer. This must be done after rituals explained by your astrologer. Normally, Opal is chosen to be worn on Fridays.