BLUE OPAL: A GEMSTONE OF BEAUTY AND POWER
Blue Opal is a magnificent gemstone that emanates beauty, tranquility, and healing vibrations. It is a highly sought-after gemstone by jewelry designers, collectors, and gemstone enthusiasts because of its unique properties and alluring color. The stone is also known as the Blue Stone and the Blue Gemstone, and it is believed to embody metaphysical qualities that make it a powerful spiritual tool.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Blue Opal measures 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a relatively durable gemstone. It is highly transparent and has a translucent quality to it that creates a dreamy, ethereal effect when it is polished. The gorgeous blue color of the stone is a result of the combination of iron and silica in the stone. Heat treatment can affect how intense the blue color is, and it can also cause the color to vary from batch to batch.
COLOR
The range of colors in blue opal is breathtakingly beautiful, with most stones displaying different shades of blue. The hues of blue opal can range from bluish-green to deep navy blue, and some variations can even have hints of purple or greenish-brown. The color variation of blue opal is often attributed to the difference in the stone’s source location and the time in which it is polished.
IDENTIFYING BLUE OPAL
Although blue opal has a striking blue color, it can be challenging to distinguish it from quartz or glass. One way to identify a natural blue opal is by observing its unique play of light through its structure when viewed through a magnifying glass under bright light conditions. Its intense blue color is also a distinguishing characteristic that other clear or milky opals lack.
USES OF BLUE OPAL
Blue opal’s mesmerizing blue color makes it a popular choice for making captivating jewelry pieces, such as necklaces and bracelets. It is also used in ancient cultures as a protective stone that safeguards against the evil eye. The gemstone has been worn for centuries by cultures such as the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who believed in its protective qualities against sudden death. Blue opal is also used as an amulet for good luck and protection against illnesses and poisons.
SPIRITUAL PROPERTIES
Blue opal has profound spiritual properties that go beyond its physical beauty. The stone has powerful healing properties that benefit the heart chakra and the throat chakra. It promotes calmness, aids in concentration and clarity of thought, and enhances intuition. The use of color therapy, in which blue opal is a prominent gemstone, can improve digestion, ease respiratory issues such as asthma, and promote restful sleep. Blue opal amplifies creativity, imagination, and success in business pursuits. Its calming energy can also reduce stress levels and enhance spiritual communication.
CARE FOR BLUE OPAL
Blue opal is a durable stone that requires minimal special care. It is best to protect it from high temperatures and damage, and while it can be polished with a soft cloth, it should not be rubbed too forcefully. Blue opal cannot be cut or chipped but may be filed slightly. Avoid soaking the stone in water as this can dissolve the iron oxide coating and lower the stone’s color intensity.
Table:
| Properties | Description |
| — | — |
| Physical Properties | Mohs scale rating of 5-6, Highly Transparent and Translucent |
| Color | Range of shades of blue ranging from bluish-green to deep navy blue |
| Identification | Can be confused with quartz or glass but has a unique play of light and intense blue color |
| Uses | Jewelry making, Protection against the evil eye, protective talisman, and amulet for good luck |
| Spiritual Properties | Benefits heart chakra and throat chakra, promotes calmness, concentration, clarity of thought, enhances creativity, imagination, and success in business pursuits|
| Care | Avoid high temperatures and damage, use a soft cloth to polish, avoid soaking in water as may lower color intensity|
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Blue Opal is a breathtaking gemstone that emanates beauty and tranquility, making it a prized possession for many. Its physical properties, color variations, spiritual properties, and special care requirements make it an intriguing choice for those interested in the metaphysical aspects of gemstones. Adding a piece of Blue Opal jewelry to your collection, or making it a talisman, can enhance the beauty of the wearer and offer powerful spiritual benefits. Its ability to attract good fortune, prosperity and promote calmness, intuition, and creative energy is what makes Blue Opal a must-have in every gemstone enthusiasts’ collection.