"There is in them a softer fire than the ruby, there is the brilliant purple of the amethyst, and the sea green of the emerald - all shining together in incredible union."
–– Pliny the Elder
There's more than one legend about how opal is formed. The Greeks believed the radiant stones were tears of joy, which fell to...read more
"There is in them a softer fire than the ruby, there is the brilliant purple of the amethyst, and the sea green of the emerald - all shining together in incredible union."
–– Pliny the Elder
There's more than one legend about how opal is formed. The Greeks believed the radiant stones were tears of joy, which fell to Earth after being shed by Zeus in heaven. The Ancient Romans claimed opals were the original gemstone from which all others are descended. Ancient Arab cultures embraced opals as divine light sent down via lightning bolts, while the Aboriginal people of Australia hold that the great Creator descended to Earth to spread a message of peace, and with every footstep deposited tiny pieces of rainbow in the ground. When something is this magnificent, it deserves a fantastical explanation. The truth about opals is more scientific, but no less magical.
We now know that opal is formed when a tiny drop of water combines with silica, and then, finds a perfectly sized gap deep below ground to settle. Over millions of years, that perfect little drop grows into an opal. And nowhere does this magical process happen with more beautiful results than in Ethiopia where conditions are just right, and the white beauties shimmer with every color of the rainbow.
These pieces showcase 12 total carats of these iridescent wonders in gold-finished sterling silver. We're offering this unsurpassed explosion of beauty and color for an exclusive Stauer price. A small price to pay for a seven-million-year-old piece of magic.
