The leaves are changing, it’s getting a bit colder outside, apples are back in season along with pumpkin-flavored everything…
It is officially fall.
October has always been a particularly festive month with the seasonal harvest and Halloween fun. This is the time of the year where the whole world around us seems to join in the spirit of celebration, with playful fall breezes and color changing leaves…
Speaking of color changing, did you know that October’s birthstone is a stone that is named for its color changing abilities? Opal is derived from the Greek word opallos, which means “to see a change of color”[1]. Opal is quite a mysterious stone, and is not formed by any simple means, whatsoever. In fact, it can take up to 6 million years for an opal to form!
Opals are formed from silica and water, and lots of heat and pressure. They are pretty amazing, actually, and come in a wide variety of colors and hues that often change under different amounts of light. Opals can range in a variety of colors, and a large amount of it has been found in Australia[2]. Not surprisingly, Australia made opal its national gemstone!
Our favorite birthstone poem from Tiffany & Co.’s pamphlet from 1870[3] had this to say about opals:
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.
Caring for your Opal: Opals are very delicate, so much care must be taken when wearing them. They can get scratched and cracked very easily, and the only way to clean them is with warm, soapy water very carefully.
Now scroll on down and feast your eyes on some of our opal beauties, most still available in our East Brunswick, NJ showroom…
All that glimmers in this ring is gold, including the golden-hued opal! Flanked by sparkling diamonds, the subtle, shimmering opal centering this piece really brings it altogether. With an intertwining rope detail, this ring breaches vintage and modern designs. Perfect gift for a friend or for yourself! Find it here.
Not for the faint of heart, this stunning blue opal pendant is such a unique and breath-taking piece, it’s sure to sell soon! Featuring two slices of genuine opal framed in natural seed pearls, this necklace would make a perfect birthday gift. This baby has been sold!
For the vintage fashionista, these gold scroll motif earrings and divine. Featuring delicate filigree detailing and creamy white opals, these drop earrings can be worn with a little black dress, or dress-up a cozy sweater and jeans. Start the bidding here.
Yet another dazzling blue opal piece, this gorgeous gold ring features a rich blue opal inlay design, adorned with five channel-set diamonds. The contrasting yellow gold with the rich blues really makes this ring a knockout! Find it here.
Now for something extra…ssspecial! This sterling silver, Navajo-crafted cuff bracelet didn’t stay in our showroom for very long! Slinky turquoise-eyed snakes wrap around glimmering, colorful opals to create an amazing and unique piece!
Prices for all items displayed are available by calling us at our East Brunswick, NJ showroom at 888-565-1120. Just reference this blog post when calling. And remember- we’re always buying, so you can bring in an old piece and trade it for something new! Happy birthday, October birthdays!
[1] http://www.americangemsociety.org/october-birthstones
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