Opal stone is a gem of rare beauty. There are many varieties of this mineral, and all of them are distinguished by their unique tints and amazing play of light. The name of the gem in translation from Sanskrit means - a gem.

Opals come in a wide variety of shades, which are due to impurities of manganese, iron, nickel and other elements. Depending on the color, some opals have their own names. You can admire the stone for a long time, in which you see the depth of the ocean or the vast expanses of space. But among them there is a gem that captivates with its beauty and excites the soul with a blazing fire. This is Fire Opal.







The orange-red color of opal, similar to a frozen flame, mesmerizes with a fiery glow. Especially valuable are Mexican fire opals, which have an incredibly rich and vibrant color. Their formation is associated with volcanic lava, but the formation of this gem took millions of years, and hot lava still lives in stone.

The ancient Maya and Aztecs believed in the extraordinary power and energy of the stone, claiming that fire was raging in it. The stone was used in rituals and ceremonies, and magnificent mosaics were created with the gem. Fire opal has become a national jewel Mexico... And although the stone has been known since antiquity, it began to be used as a special preference in jewelry in the 60s - 70s of the last century. Nowadays, fire opals of the best quality are not such a common find.

Physical properties of fire opal

The gem can be either transparent or translucent. The color scheme contains rich, bright and juicy shades of flame, which means hyacinth-red, orange, wine with yellowness, terracotta, opals are almost red. In some gems, at different angles of refraction of light, different color shades play and shimmer. The stone combines red, orange and yellow highlights, like in the evening sunset.

Fire opal from Australia is characterized by pleochroism - color overflows, if you send light to the stone and look at it from different angles. This color play is due to the special structure of the stone. Some specimens resemble volcanic magma or a smoldering ember, a blazing flame or an evening sunset, and there are some in which you can see the Sun.



Another interesting effect in opals is an iridescent color glow in bright light (opalescence). This effect is especially evident after polishing the stone. From a physical point of view, opals are silica hydrogels with a water content of 6 to 10%. They can lose their properties with the loss of water.

• Hardness on the Mohs scale - 5.5 - 6.5
  
• Density - 2.1 g / cm 3.
  
• Fire opal is a fragile mineral, therefore it is afraid of mechanical stress, as well as temperature drop.
  
• There is no cleavage in it, the fracture is conchial.
  
• Refraction – 1,45.
  
• Glass luster.
  

Fire Opal Deposits

The deposits of fire opal on the planet are the slopes of extinct volcanoes. Mexico is considered the birthplace of fire opal. Mineral was mined here in antiquity. In addition to Mexico, fire opals are mined in Australia, Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala. There are deposits in the USA, Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan. In Russia, these minerals are found in Transbaikalia and Kamchatka. But the main reserves of fire opal are concentrated in Australia.

Jewelry

Jewelry with fire opal literally burns, playing with bright tints of "flame". Many admirers of the fire stone assure that opal radiates heat and carries energy. And many jewelers devote their collections to him. For example, Lydia Courtel In 2011 she created stunning fire opal jewelry in the Gardens of Xochimilco collection. Her pieces are always bright and provocative, and jewelry with this gem is one of them.



Catherine Jetter - another jewelry designer, she believes that the beauty of scarlet "scorching" gems can compete with the beauty of rubies. Opal cutting is quite difficult, because the mineral is known for its fragility. But Jetter uses his own patented process, bringing the gem to perfection.

Irene Neuwirth - a jewelry designer from Los Angeles is also a fan of fire opals and often uses them in his jewelry. At the same time, she is the owner of one of the largest collections of opals. Nicholas Varney and Dior also enthusiastically tell their stories, where the main characters are fire opals, unique in their beauty and shape.

Fire opal was one of the most beloved stones in ancient Rome. He was considered the personification of love and hope. They loved fire opals both in Africa and in India. Since ancient times, gems have been used to create jewelry.



British Queen Victoria more than once ordered various jewelry from these stones, admired and purchased fire opal and other monarchs of the world. If bright jewelry is your preference, then fire opal should certainly become the main treasure.

Jewelers use different methods of stone processing. Gems can be in the form of drops, oval, with an ombre effect ... Opals are often made in the form of cabochons, it is in this method of processing that they most fully reveal their best properties - depth and radiance of color, optical effects. They are used as inserts in pendants, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, less often in rings.

Sometimes jewelers try to preserve the natural, given by nature, shape. And if these are earrings, then they may be different, but at the same time they have a common idea of ​​creation. For small gems, the classic form of execution is also allowed. Jewelers prefer a frame to a stone mainly made of gold.

Stone carving is also used, the hand of the master reveals the form that was laid by nature itself. You will not find two identical stones, each is interesting and individual in its own way. In this method of processing, the dimensions and mass of the stone are preserved as much as possible.

Looking at each copy, the artist sees a unique form, and fantastic ideas arise in his thoughts, which he brings to life. Whole plots are born around the stone, involving diamonds, sapphires and other gems. Jewelers use a spectacular gem even without a cut, creating a fancy frame around it.

Fire Opal Jewelry Care

The stone is fragile, therefore, products made from it require special care. It can even absorb oils and fats and is heat sensitive. Owners should protect them from contact with cosmetics and occasionally immerse them in water, since, losing moisture from its composition, the stone also loses its best properties.

Jewelry with gems can be stored in high humidity conditions. Rings with fire opals are best worn on rare, most often, solemn occasions, in evening options or outings.

In addition to all the above warnings, you should exclude the presence of the gem in direct sunlight, and also avoid temperature extremes, including frost.

How to clean a stone? It is best to do this in warm water with a soft cloth, then wipe dry. Ultrasonic cleaning is contraindicated for fire opals. Alkaline treatment is also dangerous, therefore, soap cannot be used during cleaning in water. You can also polish the stone by rubbing silk cloth.

The magical properties of fire opal

In the East, especially in India, opals were deified. They were considered stones of love, faith and compassion, and also claimed that they enlighten the mind with the play of light, disperse dark thoughts and fears. Opals were endowed with the same properties in many European countries. These stones were associated with pure thoughts, were a symbol of happiness and love. In India, opal was believed to promote good communication between people.

Perhaps the stone affects the feelings of people and helps to preserve love, but there are other examples when a donated stone entailed the destruction of family life. It is believed that such a fact occurred between Napoleon and Josephine. So to believe or not to believe the gem, and in what cases, it is your choice.

The healing properties of the gem

Ayurveda says that opal contains water, fire and heat, so it can be a worthy healer for people. Some doctors, observing their crowned patients, argued that opal calms the nerves, helps with heart disease, keeps from melancholy and irritation, and restores visual acuity.

Modern lithotherapists have increased their knowledge and believe that these stones have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, or rather on the pituitary and pineal gland, have energy, harmonize all body functions and protect against infections.

What do astrologers say?

They say that everything depends on the sign of the zodiac, so fire opal is only suitable for Scorpions, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Astrologers believe that these people themselves have a strong energy, and fire opal will help them overcome any difficulties. And for people like Leo, opal will help to find peace, relieve anger.

But for the rest of the zodiac signs, fire opal does not fit. What if you like it? It’s up to you to decide. Maybe you can cope with its raging energy?

Artificial Fire Opal

It is good that science has made great strides forward, and those who admire the beauty of this stone can afford to acquire a gem. After all, its cost is much lower than natural, and it will not suppress your energy, because the properties of magical and medicinal are not preserved in artificial stones.

It is not as fragile and therefore can be used in all products. It will take our planet thousands of years to create natural opals, it still needs to be found, and it is difficult to process. And the beauty of the gem has already conquered many. And so, science has helped us create artificial opal. By growing the structure of the mineral, similar to the natural one, artificial fire opal is obtained.

How to identify a fake

If you are honestly informed that this is an artificial opal, then this is not a hoax, and not a fake. A well-made artificial stone is very similar to a natural gem.

If you are in doubt about the naturalness of an opal, consider a stone -

There are always patterns in the structure of a natural gem, and they are all chaotic and do not repeat.
When the sun's ray hits the stone, the light play will be reflected, and you will see light reflections on the skin of the hand holding the stone. But it is best to use the advice of a gemologist or buy in a jewelry store that you trust with full confidence. For any stone here you will be provided with a quality certificate.

Fire opal cost

The cost of precious stones depends on color, transparency, play of color, size of the stone, and of course, cut. The most expensive opals are considered to be red-orange. The more orange and red shades in the gem, the higher its cost. The price for 1 carat can be several hundred dollars.

The frame of the product is also added to the cost. Most often, these stones are set in gold, so the price of a small product starts from tens of thousands of rubles and beyond.



Fire opal is an extraordinary, and even completely exceptional stone in its beauty, it is distinguished by its depth of color, radiance and uniqueness of shape. Therefore, many jewelry brands are inspired by him to create fantastic pieces!