White opal was first mined in Czerwentiza, Czechoslovakia (formerly called Cernowitz, Hungary) in the 14th century, where up to 300 men mined the opal fields.
In Mexico, Fire Opal was has been found in 13th century Aztec tombs in Central America.
Opal are also found in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, western USA and Honduras. By 1932, the Eastern European mines were unable to compete with the high quality stone being
found in Australia and they ceased production.
The Australian opal is the finest quality in the world. 95% of the world's precious opals come from the Australian opal mines.
Opal History and Legends
The Sanskrit word for opal, Upala
means " precious stone"; and early Latin word was Opalus and the Greek Opallios both mean "to see a change
(of colour)". In medieval times, opals were known as "ophthalmus lapis" or "ophthalmios".
These ancient races claimed that opal had magical qualities and aided its wearer in seeing limitless possibilities.
They believed opals clarified, amplified and mirrored feelings, buried emotions and desires. Opals were thought to lessen inhibitions and promote spontaneity.
The early Greeks believed the opal bestowed powers of foresight and prophecy upon its owner. Onomacritus, a Greek poet wrote: “the delicate colour and tenderness of the opal reminded him of a loving and beautiful child”.
Arabic folklore says opals fell from heaven in flashes of lightning.
The Orientals referred to opals as “the anchor of hope” and considered opal a symbol of purity and thought that the wearer of the gem was protected from illness.
The Roman "Cupid Stone"
The early Romans referred to opals as the “Cupid stone” because it suggested the clear complexion of the god of love.
Romans thought opals had aphrodisiacal qualities and the capability of bringing great wealth to its owner.
The Romans considered opals be a token of hope and purity.
According to legend, one Roman Emperor offered to trade one-third of his vast kingdom for a single opal.
An opal was said to be set in the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Emperor.
In medieval times, opals were known as "ophthalmus lapis." Albertus Magnus describes it as follows:
"The orphanus is a stone which is in the crown of the Roman Emperor, and none like it has ever been seen; for this very reason it is called orphanus. It is of a subtle vinous tinge, and its hue is as though pure white snow flashed and sparkled with the color of bright, ruddy win, and was overcome by this radiance. It is a translucent stone, and there is a tradition that formerly it shone in the night-time; but now, in our age, it does not sparkle in the dark. It is said to guard the regal
honor". (Alberti Magni, Opera Omnia, ed. Borgnet, Parisiis, 1890.)
The Opal of Nonius
The Roman Senator Nonius chose exile “turned out of house and home” rather than surrender a large opal ring to Marc Antony.
Pliny the Elder (Plinii), Roman officer and author of the Natural History
(Naturalis historia) wrote of the opalus: "There exists today a gem of this kind, on account of which the senator Nonius was proscribed by Antony. Seeking safety in flight, he took with him of all his possessions this ring alone, which it is certain, was valued at 2,000,000 sesterces
(USD$80,000)." The opalus was "as large as a hazel-nut."
In the mid-18th Century, a peasant found a brilliant precious stone in
an old ruins at Alexandria, Egypt. This stone was set in a ring and is said to have been an opal cut en
cabochon and "as large as a hazel-nut." The ring was taken to Constantinople, where it was estimated to be worth "several thousand ducats." (Hesselquist, "Voyages and Travels in the
Levant" 1766.) The description of this gem, its apparent antiquity and the high value
placed on it have led many to ponder wheteher it was the celebrated "Opal of Nonius."
According to Isidore Kozminsky in his book “the Magic and Science of Jewels and Stones”
(1922) the "Opal of Nonius" ring was discovered in the tomb of the “firm willed Senator” early in the twentieth century.
He also writes: “Perhaps against no other gem has the bigotry of superstitious ignorance so prevailed as against the wonderful opal.”
In 'Naturalis historia' Pliny wrote that opal was the most highly prized and valuable of all gemstones in the
Roman Empire and that price was set “according to the decree generally set down and pronounced by our nice and costly dames”!
Pliny was an obvious admirer of opals: "For in them you shall see the living fire of ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light."
Another translation of the Pliny text reads: "There is in them a softer fire than in the carbuncle, there is the brilliant purple of the amethyst; there is the sea-green of the
emerald -- all shining together in incredible union. Some by their refulgent splendor rival the colors of the painters, others the flame of burning sulphur or of fire quickened by oil." (Plinii, 1. c.)
Opals: The Medieval "Eye Stone"
In the Middle Ages, the opal was known as "ophthalmios" or the "eye stone"
by people believing them to be vital to good eyesight. The opal was
claimed to cure diseases of the eye. It was thought the effect of the opal on sight could render the wearer
invisible - it was denominated patronus furum, or "patron of thieves."
A sacred stone called the yarkastein is mentioned in The Edda.
The yarkastein is formed from the eyes of children by the smith Volondr (the Scandinavian Vulcan).
Grimm suggests that this was a round, milk-white opal. It was a common
medieval idea that the image of a boy or girl could be seen in the pupil of the eye.
Napoleon & Josephine, Crown Jewels, Shakespeare & Blondes
The Crown Jewels of France has set opal pieces and Napoleon gave Josephine an opal
called "The Burning of Troy" which contained brilliant red flashes.
Shakespeare was attributed with the description of opal as “that miracle and queen of gems”.
In the Middle ages, blonde women (especially Scandinavians) were known to wear
opal necklaces to protect their hair from losing its color.
Queen Victoria often wore black opals and she helped the
gemstone regain its popularity following the release of Sir Walter Scott's
book, giving opal jewelry as gifts to her female children
and friends. She had the British Crown Jewels improved with precious gems.
Sir Walter Scott's Anne of Geierstone
Lady Hermione, a character in Sir Walter
Scott's 1829 novel 'Anne of
Geierstein' (Sir Walter Scott, "Novels," The Janson Society, New York, 1907)
wore an opal that changed colour depending on her mood - it sparkled when she was happy, it red gleams shot out of the opal when she was angry.
When a few drops of holy water was sprinkled on the opal, Hermione
fainted, was carried to her bed chamber and the next day only ashes were found on her bed.
Sir Walter Scott's readers believed that opals were unlucky, especially if worn by those not born in the month of October, and within a year of publication opal prices were down to around half
their normal market value.
"The wonderful tale…contains nothing to indicate that Scott really meant to represent opal as unlucky.”
(The Curios Lore of Precious Stones, by George F. Kunz)
The History of Opals
