Around 100 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth....

..unique geological and climatic phenomena began in what are now

Australia's desert regions, making it home to 95% of the world's Opal supply.

Read more: The Formation of Opal

Opal Magic & Metaphysical Properties

Many civilizations, cultures, and peoples have used crystals, stones, and minerals for healing and protection, not only of humans, but also for their animals and their environment.

The ancients believed that if a person wore the precious stone which, according to their tradition, was in affinity with the planets and the month of their birth, they would have protection against their enemies, sickness, accident, or even death.

In Medieval times Opal was thought to ward off illness and it was believed could confer the power of invisibility. As a protective stone Opal could help render the wearer unnoticeable or 'invisible', particularly helpful in negotiating ventures into dangerous places.

A 'symbol of hope' since ancient times Opal was considered to hold all the talismanic virtues of the other gemstones.

Modern Spiritual Interpretation

Opal is an emotional balancer which aids inner beauty and faithfulness.

Wearing, touching and observing Opal helps to increase mental capacities such as creative imagination and other unused powers of the mind. Opal aids in conscious connection with the highest aspects of being, enhancing intuition and the recollection of earlier lives.

Opal strengthens the will to live. It is believed to help cure depression and bring confidence to the wearer.

Wearing Opal is prescribed to assist in healing persons with ailments associated with memory, eye-sight, pineal and pituitary gland dysfunction.

The Balancing Power of Colour

In the Chakra energy system Opal is associated with the Crown Chakra which is the epicentre of enlightment and intuition. The energy of the Crown Chakra in Opal helps amplify and mirror feelings, buried emotions, love and passion. Because Opals may display all the spectral colours they relate harmoniously with all of the body's energy centers or Chakras. The human body needs all 7 colour-rays to maintain healthy function: RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO & VIOLET. The vibrational quality of each colour ray is associated with one or more of the 7 chakras. By using the colour ray that supports a particular charka, balance and harmony can be maintained.

Variously coloured Opals can assist in the healing of many diseases:

Red stones have generally been thought to be remedies for bleeding and inflammatory diseases,to provide a calming influence, and remove anger.

Yellow stones were believed to cure bilious disorders and diseases of the liver.

Green stones traditionally have been suggested to correct diseases of the eyes.

Blue stones are prescribed to both calm spirits of darkness and bring the aid of light and ensure sure-footedness.

Violet gemstones resonate with the pituitary gland and the central nervous system through the Crown Chakra.

Multi-coloured Opals resonate with all Chakras and Opals are the only gemstone to contain the full spectrum of colours. By maintaining balance and harmony multi-coloured Opals can help protect the wearer’s physical and spiritual well being.

Opals can match the best gemstones, tint for tint, and still find strength for laughter and dancing!

Empowerment & Awareness

The official list of 12 Birthstones, as adopted by secular jewellers, is based on the position of the Sun in the zodiac in your birth month. Although this is a good start, your birth chart is a representation of many different planetary factors and it is important to study your stars in all their complexity.

Astrologically the qualities of change and movement, described in gemmology as ‘play-of-colour’, make Opals supportive allies for times and processes of transformation and growth.

Opals constitute a beautiful and rich family of stones characterised by a variety of intense colour combinations and luminous energy that changes the stone’s colour when viewed from different angles. Each gemstone (of any type) is a unique individual; this is especially true in the enchanting world of beautiful Opals - there are simply no two alike. So you should choose not only an Opal, but also the Opal that is just right for you.

Opal is the stone of the mystic, shaman, artist and healer within us.

Opal is a wonderful companion for a marriage consciously based on spiritual principles. As Opal is a healer and mentor during times of transition and intense change, it helps to change limiting beliefs and mental patterns. Opal connects us to the collective unconscious and all the treasures it enfolds.

In addition to the harmonising frequency of the gemstone in our energy field, Opal fuels our intuition with sudden sparks of insight and wisdom.

Sources & Image Credits: GEMS, Mab Wilson, 1967. (Quote) JEWELRY & GEMS FOR SELF-DISCOVERY, Shakti Carola Navran, 2008. (Empowerment) THE CRYSTAL BIBLE - A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CRYSTALS, Judy Hall THE POWER OF JEWELRY, Nancy Schiffer, 1988. THE POWER OF GEMSTONES, Raymond J.L.Walters

Scenes, Fun Stones, Carvings & Cameos

Pattern is undoubtedly what makes Opal such an interesting and most dazzling gemstone. Stones within which images can be seen are very rare, they are well sought after by collectors worldwide.

Below are a collection of natural solid Opals all have been simply cut and polished without any engraving performed by the lapidary.

1.'Picasso's Man' 4. 'Hercules' 7. 'R'	2. 'Seaside Panorama' 5. 'Prawn' 8. 'Fern' pattern	3. 'El Gato' 6. 'Rose' 9. Madonna & Baby Jesus

Sometimes the scene or picture is somewhat subjective perhaps resembling modern art, but other times its clearly a cat!

While every Opal has a unique pattern, there are seven categories of patterns that all Opals fit within: Pinfire, Flash, Broad Flash, Rolling Flash, Harlequin, Rare Patterns and Picture Stones. Over 90% of stones have Flash and Broad Flash patterns.

Rare Patterns: Highly collectible in Opal, they only seldom appear and even experts will see very few examples throughout a career in the industry. These include the phenomena of Chatoyancy and Asterism, that is Catseyes and Star Opal, an organically derived 'Fern' pattern (8) is another. Often given interesting names which may also vary widely, like 'Chinese Writing' or the famed 'Harlequin' - a rare pattern indeed! Carefully defined, Harlequin Opal has square or angular patches that can be seen at arms length. Floral and Flagstone patterns are often mistaken for Harlequin yet they are not nearly as rare. An expert can expect to see one or two in their lifetime at best.

Picture Stones: Opals which create a picture with their pattern, sometimes in conjunction with inclusions, that reminds us of a specific object. Whereas rare patterns may be repeated periodically, picture stones are more varied and they are given names which reflect this.

‘Hercules’ a matrix picture stone found at Opalton in discarded mullock heaps on the fossicking reserve by Colin Duff c.1991. Pictured next to several possible likenesses, Hercules wearing the lions head, Freud’s thinking man, and a Spanish Conquistador.

 

Fun Stones: Low to medium grade Opals of considerable size, usually varieties of Boulder Opal; Yowah nuts, matrix, splits, slabbed or sectioned sets and specimens. Potch, ironstone and scene-like inclusions, which the lapidary would otherwise remove when cutting a gemstone, are retained in the face of the polished article. From such stones often more subjective or imaginative pictures can be interpreted and each person may see different things within them.

 

 

Structure Lines: Lines in an Opal where the internal structure of the Opal, the size and/or alignment of the silica spheres, has changed. Not cracks. These often provide the basis for unique designs or patterns as seen in picture stones. They also provide the outlines for carvers to follow on from with their craft.

 

Cameos: Carved out of gem materials with integral layers or banding, such as banded agate, shell or Opal of every variety, preferably where different layers have contrasting colours.

Stone cameos of great artistry were made in ancient Greece as far back as the 6th century BC. This carving technique features a raised (positive) relief image and as opposed to the 'intaglio' method which has a negative relief image. Both technologies were also used to adorn the world’s first coinage issued around that time. Cameos were populary worn as jewelry by the Romans and a few rare Opal cameos are attributable to the period. Cameos have since enjoyed periodic revivals, notably in the early Renaissance and during Napoleon’s reign. Queen Victoria was a major proponent of the cameo trend to the extent that they would become mass produced by the second half of the 19th century.

Hand-worked portrait cameos are extremely challenging for a gemstone carver to execute. Very few crasftspeople possess the combination of skill, highly developed artistic ability, and years of experience needed to create life-like portraits. The world centers for fine cameo carving are Torre del Greco in Italy and Idar Oberstein in Germany where the majority of fine Opaline examples were made.

Opal is a relative newcomer to the carver’s stock of materials. Wilhelm Schmidt (1845-1938), established in England as a carver, documented that he was the first to carve Opal into cameos in 1874. In a letter to A. Booth he wrote that he invented a process of cutting Opal cameos in such a way as to utilize the matrix of the rough Opal for the ground colour and emphatically insisted that no antique or fifteenth century Opal cameos existed. Schmidt carved his cameos from the newly discovered Boulder Opal variety found in Queensland Australia in the early 1870’s. Schmidt’s Opal cameos were exhibited in the 1878 Paris Exhibition by John Brogden and received a gold medal. They were acclaimed by the Paris Daily Telegraph in a June 12, 1878, news story about the exhibition:

Mr Brogden shows a neck ornament which in its nature is unique. The gems in this beautifully designed piece of decoration are camei, each being cut from an opal or the matrix of an Opal. Now, to appreciate the delicacy of such a carving, it must be remembered that the iridescence of this curious stone is due to the minute fractures by which its entire substance is traversed, just as though it had been shivered by some natural shock. As may well be imagined, the splintered formation of the Opal renders it an exceedingly impracticable stone to cut; and though here and there a carved or engraved Opal may be met with, this kind of workmanship is so rare that a cameo necklace must be accounted a wonder of wonders in the jeweller’s art.

Nowadays, the vast majority of subjects (other than commissioned portraits) are not carved by hand, the traditional themes of classical scenes from mythology or a standard image of a young lady, are more likely to be made with the aid of an ultrasonic mill or carving machine. Multiple copies of a master design can be produced relatively quickly, by pressing a master die onto the stone blank. The result is a cameo that has a satin surface texture described as "freshly fallen snow", by gemmologist and author Anna Miller. This texture and the lack of any undercutting are used by appraisers as evidence to prove that a cameo is machine-made.

Assembled cameos, made by setting a carved Opal relief onto a backing of ironstone are mass produced in Hong Kong, just like doublets they can be readily identified.

 

Sources & Image Credits: 1-3. 'Picasso's Man' & 'Seaside Panorama' set by Christopher Green & 'El Gato': set by Les Cichonski all for the bolda collection 4. Colin Duff - 'Hercules' 5. 'Prawn' boulder Opal photo by Len Cram 6. Jerry Doktor - 'The Rose' 7. 'R' Rocky Carbone Collection rocciopals.com, photo taken by opalhut.com.au 8. 'Fern' pattern, Opal Identification & Value, Paul Downing, 2001. 9. 'Madonna & Baby Jesus'(pictured:77.64cts) and sister Boulder Opal split 'The Blessing' (130cts) both in the collection of Opaline. 10. Ran Opal - Traditional Japanese art work on Boulder Fun Stones; bejewel.co.jp/en/ 11. bolda Aquatica range 12. bolda Luli range 13. 'Peacock' jewel created by John Iskenderian, carving by Opaline, photo by Stephen Aracic 14. Opal Cameo carved in Idar Oberstein on the cover of Cameos Old & New, 3rd Ed., Anna M. Miller, 2003. (William Schmidt & John Brogden) 15. Carved Opal faces set in a jet collier by Charlotte de Sylas. 16. Natural Boulder Opal Cameo c.1900 17. THE ENGRAVED GEMS OF CLASSICAL TIMES, John Henry Middleton. 1891.

Pronunciation: OH-pul Meaning: 'precious gem'; 'eye lotion'; 'bearer of change' Gender: Female or Male

Related Names: Opala - from Portuguese Opale - Germanic, Gallic and Italian spelling Opali - spelling of plural in Italian
Opalina - modern Latin languages version of adj. Opaline - adjective: colourful, playful & soothing
Oparu - pronunciation in Japanese Opall - differentiated English spelling
Opallios - from Greek Opalos - as the Mexicans call it in Spanish
Opal(l)us - from Latin Opel - differentiated spelling
Ophal - olde English Opthalmos - from Greek Optallio - olde English Upala - from Sanskrit

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

A myth from the Aborigines of Australia tells of the birth of Opal: “...the creator came down to Earth on a rainbow, with a message of peace to all the people. And at the very spot, where his foot touched the ground, the stones became alive and started sparkling in all the colours of the rainbow.”

Opal is the embodiment of ' THE SPIRIT OF THE CHILD' - To the ancient Greeks it was known as paederos, the derivation of this meant both 'child' and 'favourite' - inferring that it had the kind of peerless beauty of a child.

Opal n. an amorphous form of hydrated silicon dioxide that can be of almost any colour and may contain all the primary colours and many more tints or hues besides. It is used as a gemstone. [from Greek Opthalmios, ‘the eye stone’ or ‘eye lotion’; from Latin Opalus, Gk. Opallios ‘to see a change’, from Sanskrit Upala ‘precious stone’] – Opaline adj. [Opal entered the English language as Opal around 1586]

POPULARITY

Gemstone names, such as Pearl or Ruby, became popular in the 19th century, but Opal was not one of the more fashionable of these names.

Opal has not appeared in the top 1000 baby names since 1960, when it ranked at number 920. Popularity dropped substantially in the 1950s, though popularity had been in decline for several decades.

The name Opal saw the height of its popularity in 1911, when it ranked at number 81.

Opal was occasionally used as a boy’s name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but it was never as common for boys. In 1911, it ranked as number 885, but it has not appeared on the boy’s chart since then. Opal has maintained a bit more popularity in Australia. In 1997, it ranked at number 679. This is appropriate considering that Opal was proclaimed Australia's National Gemstone in 1993, and Australia is the world's main producer of Opal - 'An Opal hearted country'!

Other Gemstone names, such as Amber and Jet have increased in popularity in the late 20th century, Opal may yet experience a revival.

BIRTHSTONES & ZODIACS

Opal is the birthstone for the month of October and is associated with the zodiac signs Libra, Leo and Aquarius.

Just as Opals are thought to bring luck if worn by a person born in October or under these signs it may be an appropriate name for babies born therein.

NAMESAKES

• Opal, Virginia, USA
• Opal, Wyoming, USA
• Opal, Xinjiang, China
• The Opals: Nickname for the Australia Women’s National Basketball Team.
• Opal Coffee: Coffee shop at 331 Pitt Street in Sydney, Australia www.opalcoffee.com.au
• Hurricane Opal: Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in 1995.
• Opal: Online Programming for All Libraries
• Opal Koboi: From the Artemis Fowl series of fictional novels by Eoin Colfer.
• Opal Fire: Album by musician Omar
• Opal Fish: Armored catfishes are found in Costa Rica, Panama and South America
• Opal Glass: opalescent glass with a blueish tinge due to the dffraction of light by its internal structure
• Opal Nero: Black Sambuca alcoholic spirits
• Opal Rose: Opal Guitar inlayed & handcrafted by hollingworth guitars Australia
• Opal Dream: Peter Cattaneo's movie, starring Vince Colosimo
• Opal Divine's restaurants bar & pub at3 Austin Texas locations www.opaldivines.com
• Opal: Lounge bar, DJ., 36 Gloucester Road, Kensington, www.opalbar.co.uk
• HMAS Opal c.1885
• Black Opal Stakes - Horse Racing Carnival, Canberra ACT

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Opal Anchel: Actress
• Opal Bush: Dallas Cowboy’s Cheerleader
• Opal Hill: Professional Golfer
• Opalinska Catherine: Queen of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1680-1747)
• Opalinska Wanda: Plays Polish immigrant Wiki Dankowska on the BBC soap-opera "Coronation Street"

 

OPAL COCKTAIL

Ingredients: - 2 shots or 6cl Gin - 1 shot or 3cl Orange Juice - 1/2 shot or 1.5cl Triple Sec -1/4 to 1/2 tsp Superfine Sugar (Optional: 2 dashes Orange Bitters) Glassware: Cocktail Glass Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.

 

Sources & Image Credits: Idea adapted from: wiki.name.com/en/Opal Fergusson, Rosalind. Choose Your Baby’s Name. London: Bloomsbury Books, 1987. www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ www.yeahbaby.com/world-name-popularity.php?name=Opal www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/opal.html Wallace, Carol McD. The Greatest Baby Name Book Ever. New York: Avon Books, 1998. pp 594-595. Cocktails: cocktailtimes.com & drinkswap.com

The Art of Love

Opal - 'The stone of Lovers and Artists' - has always been associated with love, hope and desire.

The ancient Greeks and Romans referred to Opal as the 'Cupid Stone', because it suggested the clear complexion of the god of love.

The seductive nature of Opal intensifies emotional states and releases inhibitions inspiring passion and romance.

Opal stimulates originality and creativity whilst encouraging an interest in the arts.

Luck & The Power of Love

Opal enhances cosmic consciousness and induces psychic and mystical visions.

The psychological ability to love oneself is amplifed by wearing opal, helping you realise your full potential.

Wearing an opal brings loyalty, faithfulness and spontaneity as it encourages the wearer to put out positive emotions.

Thus, Opal is a karmic stone teaching that what you put out comes back. You make your own Luck!

Loving Words

In 18th century France and England, jewellery was often set with gems the first letters of which, combined, formed a motto or expressed a sentiment. Some of the more common ones relating to Opal appear below.

SOUVENIR   POWER     GOOD LUCK

FOREVER LOVE ME   HOPE   BONHEUR

In the sentimental late nineteenth century, this practice was repeated, and it is still used by romantics today. Word association or the use of one's own initials can add another dimension to a piece of jewellery, it helps to tell a story which makes for an excellent heirloom.

Devotional Jewellery Various articles of jewellery have long been associated by use and decoration with religion, although some also have decoration of a secular nature or were used for superstitious reasons or supposed magical powers. Devotion to one's beliefs, dedication to one's family, queen or country and the earnest attachment of a mother to her children are themes which are continually revisited in jewellery design: These acrostic bracelets belonged to Empress Josephine (1763-1814) and have ultimately been inherited by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

One bracelet with eight stones and 157 diamonds reads EUGENE (Emeraude, Unaktie, Grenat, Emeraude, Nicolo, Emeraude). The other with six stones and 147 diamonds reads HORTENSE (Hessonite, Opale, Rubis, Turquoise, Emeraude, Nicolo, Saphire, Emeraude). By her first marriage to Alexander Beauharnais, Josephine had 2 children who were adopted by Napoleon, her son Eugene and daughter Hortense.

The Power of Colour

The symbolism of colour has always played an important role in recommending particular gemstones for special purposes in jewellery:

Red stones have generally been thought to be remedies for bleeding and inflammatory diseases, to provide a calming influence, and remove anger.

Yellow stones were believed to cure bilious disorders and diseases of the liver.

Green stones traditionally have been suggested to correct diseases of the eyes.

Blue stones are prescribed to both calm spirits of darkness and bring the aid of light and ensure sure-footedness.

Multi-coloured Opals may display all the spectral colours so they relate harmoniously with all of the body's energy centers or Chakras.

Opals can match the best gemstones, tint for tint, and still find strength for laughter and dancing!

Protective Powers

The full spectrum of colours found in multi-coloured Opals resonates with all Chakras and by maintaining balance and harmony can help protect the wearer’s physical and spiritual well being.

Opal is a protective stone which can help make the wearer unnoticeable or 'invisible', particularly helpful in negotiating ventures into dangerous places.

Opal strenghthens the will to live!

Sources & Image Credits: GEMS, Mab Wilson, 1967. (Quote) PRECIOUS GEMS - JEWELLERY FROM EIGHT CENTURIES, National Musem Stockholm, 2000. (Empress Josephine's bracelets) THE CRYSTAL BIBLE - A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CRYSTALS, Judy Hall THE POWER OF JEWELRY, Nancy Schiffer, 1988. THE POWER OF GEMSTONES, Raymond J.L.Walters THE bolda COLLECTION, Photo: Pendant/Brooch by Rachi Jewellers Japan

The Lapidary Process:

A Step by Step Guide to Cutting Queensland Boulder Opal

The miner cracks a nice looking Boulder.	Luckily it's full of good veins of opal.
The Cutter/Miner Slabs or Blocks the rock exposing the vein all the way around the rock.	With the help of a small incision it can be split as the veins are thick and true.
This is good hard rock which splits well....	Revealing multiple faces of opal.
Shape selection can now be made.	The trim saw is used to preform the stone.
Now having been glued or stuck with wax on to a dopstick the stone is ready for fine shaping.	The stone has an undulating surface so delicate sanding & polishing is done using small wheels on a dental lathe.

 

Cutting: Pleasure, Value Adding or Profession ?

Cutting Display, London Exhibition 1886	Opal cutting is a specialised job but many miners do cut their own. Others prefer to leave it up to the cutter, wholesaler or manfacturer to decide the shape and cut appropriate for making jewellery.
Cutting, Opalton QLD 1902	The first lapidaries on the Australian Opal fields at the turn of the century rigged up sewing machines, bicycles etc. creating hand or foot operated contraptions with which to cut and polish Opals. Some miners prefer to sell completely rough material just as they find it, others choose to block and face, or 'rub' it to reduce the element of hidden surprise.
Opal Cutters Camp,3 Mile Lightning Ridge 1910	There has always been a strong demand for cutters services on the opal fields, particularly in Lightning Ridge where most of the Opals found are sold as cut and polished gems by their finders. There a single stone may provide enough money on which to retire.

Peter Christianos' Hong Kong Opal cutting factory 1963. Photo Courtesy of www.opaline.com.au

 

Despite its price, each piece of Opal is different and has its own personality and appeal. Your choice of Opal is a reflection of your personal expression of style. Whether it be your favourite colour or has a mesmerising pattern; a dazzling jewel or a raw more natural feel; Your Opal will be priceless to you, the wearer!
	Boulder Opal, pave set diamonds & platinum pendant by Baer Jewels

Treat Opal with care as you would any precious gem or investment; avoid heavy blows, abrasives, harsh chemicals and extreme heat.

Although you probably would not wear any gemstone jewellery while gardening or washing the dishes, solid Opal jewellery is actually best cleaned using a soft cloth and mild kitchen detergent in cool water.

Because water is part of its composition, Opal is a ‘living gem’ which should not be subjected to extreme heat and may be susceptible to dehydration.

Therefore:

1. If Opal is to be stored for protracted periods it should not be subjected to overly dry conditions such as those found in a bank safety deposit box.

2. Opals should be worn regularly as they are nourished by contact with their wearer.

3. The use of an ultrasonic cleaner for Opal jewellery is not recommended.

4. Opals should not be treated with mineral oils or glycerine despite its common but misguided use to store opal specimens. Clean or demineralised water is a better alternative for storage.

If you wish to have loose Opal set, be sure to find a reputable jeweller who is familiar and comfortable working with Opal. Have a go and design your own Opal jewel.

After a long life of steady use Opal jewellery may need re polishing, it is best to take it to an expert, preferably who sold it to you.

Note* Opal is a 'living gem' as are pearls, both are somewhat delicate gemstones, as are emeralds. Once mounted in a setting all gemstones are equally as vulnerable, including diamonds, which may chip (cleave) and fallout of their settings. Therefore all gemstones and jewellery should be handled respectfully. Sources & Image Credits: EXTRA LAPIS, No. 10. OPAL THE PHENOMENAL GEMSTONE (use of oils & glisterine) THE bolda COLLECTION; Photo of 'Angels' carving

Opal is the official Birthstone for the month of October as promoted by the Jewellers Association of Australia and adopted by the American National Association of Jewellers in 1912.

Opal is the Birthstone for the Zodiac sign of Libra - 'The Balance'

Opal is listed as the natal stone or star stone in the following Birthstone tables:

Modern – October Ayurvedic – October

Mystical – April Hindu – March

 

Sun Sign (Star Sign) - 'The Water Bearer'

Sun Sign (Star Sign) – 'The Lion'

Opal is a lucky stone for persons who entered life with the sun in Leo and Aquarius.

 

 

Since Opals may contain the colours of every other gemstone they may be used in place of any birthstone.

Opal is the Wedding Anniversary stone for the 13th, 14th and 18th year of Marriage.

"October's child is born for woe,
And life's vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest."

Famous People born in October whose Birthstone is Opal:

Alfred Nobel Swedish chemist, Nobel Prise’s namesake Alvin Toffler American author & business futurist Anita Roddick Successful UK businesswoman and founder of the ‘Body Shop’ Anthony Hopkins Famous Welsh actor, renowned for his role as Hannibal in ‘Silence of the Lambs’ Arsene Wenger Arsenal football club manager Arthur Miller US dramatist, 1915+, Arthur Rimbaud French poet, 1854 - 91 Arthur Zimmermann German statesman, 1864 - 1940 Ashlee Simpson Actress Bill Gates Founder of Microsoft, arguably the world’s richest man Bill Wyman Ex-Rolling Stone Billy Connolly Scottish comedian Bob Geldof Irish singer, famous for organiser 'Live Aid' humanitarian fund raising concerts Carole Lombard Arguably the finest comedienne throughout the 30s and into the early 40s Carrie Fisher Actress starred in "Austin Powers" and "When Harry Met Sally" Catherine Deneuve Grand dame of French cinema Charlton Heston US film star & gun activist, played ‘Ben Hur’ Cliff Richard UK singer, unique in having number one hits across five decades Daniela Pestova Model Dannii Minogue Australian celebrity, little sister of Kylie David Carradine Famous celebrity Dawn French British comedienne, as in French and Saunders Denis Diderot French philosopher 1713-84 Desmond Tutu South African religious leader, 1931+ Dick Francis British novelist, 1920+ Donna Karan US Fashion guru Doris Lessing English writer, 1919+ Dylan Thomas Welsh poet E E Cummings Famous American writer and poet Eleanor Roosevelt US first lady & wife of Teddy Eminem Hugely successful White 'gangsta' rapper, like him or not. Eugenio Montale Italian poet, 1896-1981 Evelyn Waugh English novelist, 1903-66 Ezra Pound American poet 1885-1972 Faith Baldwin Author Fanny Brice Comedienne, 1891-1951 Ferdinand Foch French marshal Fran Lebowitz American writer, 1946- Frank Herbert American writer, 1920 - 86 Friedrich Nietzsche German philosopher and writer George Bancroft Historian Giuseppe Verdi 1813-1901, Italian composer Gore Vidal Writer Graham Greene Famous author Groucho Marx US comedian, member of the Marx Brothers, 1890-1977 Guy Pearce Australian Actor in The Proposition Gwen Stefani Famous American pop diva Hannah Arendt American political philosopher Harold Pinter English playwright 1930- Helen Hayes Long regarded as the first lady of American theatre, 1900-1993 Helen Hunt Jackson US writer, 1830-85 Hugh Jackman Actor from The X-Men and Australia Ian Thorpe Aussie swimming star, The Thorpedo Italo Calvino Italian novelist Ivan Turgenev Great Russian author Jackie Collins Successful author Jamelia Singer James Boswell Biographer of Samuel Johnson 1740-95 James Cook Captain in British Navy, known as the World's Explorer, 1728-79 James Whitcomb Riley Poet, 1849-1916 Jean Giraudoux French playwright Jesse Jackson Famous American activist, 1941+ Jimmy Breslin Columnist Jimmy Carter American President from 1977-1981 Joe Hill American labour leader and songwriter, 1879-1914 John Adams American president 1797-1801 John Cleese British comedian John Dewey Philosopher John ­Evelyn English diarist, 1620-1706 John Hay American writer, 1838-1905 John Keats Famous english poet John Le Carre British novelist John Lennon Founding member of the Beatles John Perry Barlow American writer, 1947+ John Wooden American basketball player in the 1930s Johnny Carson American comedian, 1925+ Jonas Salk American scientist, 1914-95

Julia Roberts Hollywood actress, hugely successful in 'Pretty Woman' and 'Erin Brockovich' Julie Andrews Famous English actress Kate Winslet British actress whose role in Titanic gave her huge international acclaim Katherine Mansfield New Zealand born short-story writer Kelly Preston American Actress Larry Holmes American athlete, 1949+ Le Corbusier French architect Lee Iacocca Famous businessman, wellknown as CEO of Chrysler Lenny Bruce American comedian Leon Trotsky Russian revolutionary Lord Alfred Douglas Poet and friend of Oscar Wilde 1870-1945 Louise Talma Composer, 1906+ Luciano Pavarotti Famous Italian tenor & larger than life opera singer,1935+ Mahatma Gandhi Indian statesman, 1869-1948 Margaret Thatcher Ex-British Prime Minister Marie Osmond Musician, one of the Osmonds, 1959+ Mario Puzo American novelist, author of the ‘Godfather’ series Marlene Dietrich Actress Martha Stewart American talk show host & actress, 1922+ Martina Navratilova Top tennis player Matt Damon Actor Michael Crichton American author, film producer and television producer, 1942+ Mickey Mantle Athlete, 1931-95 Montgomery Clift American actor, played in numerous B&W classics Murray Walker Famous F1 motor racing commentator Napoleon Hill American writer, 1883-1970 Natalie Clifford Barney American writer, 1876-1972 Natalie Maines American musician, 1974+ Neve Campbell Star of the 'Scream' trilogy and other movies Niels Bohr World renowned Danish physicist, 1885-1962 Nora Roberts Author Oscar Wilde Anglo-Irish playwright and poet, noted for his sartorial wit. Lived 1854-1900. Ozzy Osbourne Singer in Black Sabbath and reality TV star P Diddy Rapper who used to known as Puff Daddy P G Wodehouse British humourist Pablo Picasso Extremely influential & prolific Spanish artist, whose cubist pantings are worth millions. Paul Strand Famous photographer Paul Valery French critic & poet, 1871-1945 Peter Jackson Director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy Pope John Paul I Pope, head of the Catholic Church on Earth Rachael Leigh Cook Actress in 'The Babysitters Club' & 'She's All That' Ralph Kiner Athlete, 1922+ Ray Kroc Founder of McDonalds Corporation Richard Brinsley Sheridan Anglo-Irish playwright Richard Rorty Philosopher Rita Hayworth Actress Robin Day Broadcaster Rod Carew Athlete, 1945+ Ruth Gordon American actress and writer Sammy Hagar Musician, 1947+ Samuel Taylor Coleridge Author and poet, wrote 'The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner' epic Sarah Bernhardt Famous French actress and Opal advocate Sarah Josepha Hale US writer famous for childrens nursery rhymes, 1788-1879 Sigourney Weaver Actress Snoop Dogg American rapper Susan Sarandon American actress Suzanne Somers Actress Sylvia Plath Famous author Theodore Roosevelt American president, presided over ally victory in WWII Thomas Love Peacock English novelist 1785-1866 Thomas Wolfe American novelist Tim Robbins American Actor, in The Shawshank Redemption Timothy Leary 1920-96, American psychologist Tom Petty Musician Tommy Lee American singer, was married to Pamela Anderson Toni Braxton R&B singer Trevor Brooking Ex-football player Trey Parker Creator of the hilarious South Park Vaclav Havel President of the Czech Republic Viggo Mortensen Famous actor, plays in Lord of the Rings trilogy Vladimir Horowitz Classical pianist Vladimir Putin Russian leader, 1952+ Wallace Stevens American poet Walter Matthau American Oscar winning actor William O Douglas US legal expert, 1898-1980 William Penn English Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania, 1644-1718 Winona Ryder Hollywood actress, played in Girl Interrupted Wyclef Jean Black rapper, R&B artist, member of the 'Fugees'

Sources & Image Credits: THE CRYSTAL BIBLE - A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CRYSTALS, Judy Hall THE POWER OF JEWELRY, Nancy Schiffer, 1988. THE POWER OF GEMSTONES, Raymond J.L.Walters www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/famous/

Opal was proclaimed Australia’s National Gemstone by Governor General Bill Hayden on the 27th of July 1993.

Opal is a fitting symbol of a spirited and diverse nation, ‘an opal hearted country’ which is home to 95% of the world’s Precious Opal.

The hugely successful Australian National Women’s Basketball team is affectionately known as ‘The Opals’.

Opal is the official Gemstone of the State of South Australia.

Black Opal was proclaimed the State Gemstone and new Emblem of New South Wales on the 7th of May 2008.

Dorothea MacKellar (1885-1968) – ‘My Country’

“An Opal hearted country a wilful lavish land, all those who have not loved her you will not understand.”

Australia's National Gemstone - a fitting emblem of this vibrant young nation!

Multi award winning opal Jewellery by Blennerhassett Fine Jewellers of Perth