![]() ![]() People once again clamored to wear opal jewelry. The country started to produce 95 percent of the world’s opal supply and many of the most beautiful specimens. When opal deposits were discovered in Australia after 1850, the gemstone’s perception changed yet again. These deaths could have been attributed to the cholera epidemic at the time, but the legend of the cursed opal persists. King Alfonso was the last to wear the opal, dying shortly after. The ring was then given to his grandmother, siter, and sister-in-law, each of them also dying when in possession of the ring. For example, Spain’s King Alfonso XII was gifted an opal ring for his wedding. ![]() Other stories of bad luck were told through the years. Within a year after publication of Scott’s book, opal sales in Europe fell by 50 percent. People began associating opals with bad luck. But when a few drops of holy water extinguished the stone’s magic fire, the woman soon died. However, that perception changed with the 1829 publication of Sir Walter Scott’s book, “Anne of Geierstein.” The story featured an enchanted princess who wore an opal that changed colors with her moods. They believed that the color-changing opal possessed the powers of each gemstone whose color appeared in its sheen. People in the Middle Ages work opal gemstones to bring them luck. They felt it could also bring about necessary destruction. They believed the “Stone of the Bird of Paradise” could foster creativity and beginnings. Meanwhile, Australian aborigines believed that the Creator came to Earth on a rainbow, leaving these colorful stones where his feet touched the ground.Īztecs named fire opal after Quetzalcoatl, their feathered-serpent diety. Greek mythology stated that opals originated from Zeus’ joyful tears after winning the battle against the Titans. It has long been associated with hope, happiness, innocence, and luck.Īccording to Arabic legend, opals fell from the sky in bolts of lightning. The folklore around opal gemstones has changed over the centuries. American Gem Society Titles & Designations.Advanced Personal Property Appraisal Course (APPA).The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising. ![]()
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