Opals - What, where, why should I care?

What is an Opal?

Stunning Diamond and Opal Ring Set from Karin Tremonti's Personal Collection

Lucky Opal, the rainbow gem or "The Stone of Hope", is the birthstone of October. But you can get its fortunate properties no matter what month it is!
Opals have been used throughout history, prized as one of the most unusual and stunning gemstones. Philospher Pliny the Elder wrote about the beauty of of Opals all the way back in 77 AD - naming it one of the most highly prized and valuable of all gemstones in the Empire!

"Memoirs of the Ocean" by K. Tremonti

  Opals have been used in the crowns of kings - the Crown Jewels of France and Hungary include an extensive selection of Opals. The Crown of the Holy Roman Empire contained an Opal stone. Napoleon presented his Empress with a magnificent Opal with brilliant red flashes - "The Burning of Troy".

Queen Victoria was a lover of Opals and wore them throughout her reign, making Opals the highest in fashion in the British Empire for long after her reign ended! It wasn't long before famous designers such as Tiffany, Lilque and Cartier began using Opals in their designs - and they have been extremely popular ever since!

So next time you think about slipping on an Opal delight, think of the regal style and famous history contained within the brilliant colours of this amazing gemstone. 

Where do they come from? 

Black Opal from Tremonti Collection

About 95% of all the World's Opal comes exclusively from Australia, and has been valued for centuries as a precious and desirable gemstone. The native Australian Aboriginals even have many stories surrounding this gift of nature, one being the following as told by the Euraliah country Aboriginals, whose territory covers (amongst others) Lightning Ridge in Australia, home of the ultra-rare Black Opals.

Black Opal from Tremonti Collection

"The Dreamtime creator came down to earth in a giant rainbow. He gathered together all the tribes and said he would return when he thought they were wise enough to carry out his plan to have peace forever on Earth.
On the stony ridges where the rainbow had rested there was a great area of rocks and pebbles. The next morning, when the sun rose and shone his light on that spot, the rocks and pebbles flashed and glittered in the sun with all the colours of the rainbow that had given them birth: red, orange, green, yellow, blue and violet. These were the first Opals."
Want to learn how they're made? That's a mystery in itself! Check out our mini-factoid post here to find out why.

Common Opal Mining Locations

Nowerdays Opals come from many different mining points in Australia, including Coober Peddy, Lightning Ridge and Mintabie. Depending on the area, you can find all sorts of Opals in many different shades - perfect for someone who likes to celebrate Australia and might be a bit picky about the sort of shades they want to capture within their Opal!

Why should I care about Opals?

Because the majority of Opal is mined right here in Australia, you are capturing both your own slice of Australian style and raw, natural beauty. Tremonti care about supporting its local community and the full splendour of Australia, so all of our Opals are hand-picked for quality from Australian Opal fields - except for the rare and chic Welo Opal, which Tremonti sources from Africa.

Black Opal from Tremonti Collection

Opals are versatile and colourful, with shades that flicker and change in the light. Diamonds might be forever but an Opal captures the splendour of the world in a single stone - and no two Opals are the same. In addition, cleaning Opals are no fuss at all - as long as Doublet and Inlay Opals are kept safe, they may be cleaned with a little gentle water - be mindful of these two partial Opal types, as they can deteriorate in quality (merely due to their backing) if immersed for too long. A Solid Opal, however, like the kind used in all Tremonti pieces, is safe to clean with water, and even some detergent if need be.

Opal, Diamond and Gold Earrings from Karin Tremonti's Personal Collection

In addition, Tremonti designs are tough and durable, meaning that you can enjoy Opal without worrying about damaging it easily. Opal Perfection!

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