Gemstones at the 2006 "Gemmies"

Opals are the gem of the land down under.  More than 90% of opals are mined from Australia’s outback.  The Australian aborigines say that opals originated when the storm god became jealous of the rainbow’s beauty and shattered it with a lightning bold.  The rainbow fell to the ground as millions of opals.  Opals are associated with dreamtime as well, which is not surprising since their assortment of colors is truly enchanting, especially since all the colors can often be seen at the same time!

 Opals are made of hydrated silicone dioxide.  Because opals have a very high water content, sometimes as high as 20%, they can become very brittle and may crack as they become dehydrated.  The best way to prevent cracked opals is to wear your opal jewelry as often as possible!  The more often you wear an opal, the more the oils from your skin will protect it.

Another very good reason to wear your opal rings and necklaces often is that they are said to help their wearer find their true love!

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