Fire Opal – Origins

Jewelry Styles & Types

You’ll most likely associate fire opal jewelry with rings. They make an unmissable accent on a finger, surrounded by a gold, silver or platinum band. They give engagement rings a vintage, retro, antique or classic quality (or all of the above). It’s important to remember that fire opals are not just limited to rings. Fire opals are crafted by in-the-know jewelers worldwide to create:

• bracelets ($60- $6,000)
• earrings ($90 – $6,000)
• pendants ($50 – $2,000)
• necklaces ($100 – $8,000)
• rings ($35, with silver settings – $5,000 with strawberry gold)
• engagement rings ($300, with sterling silver settings – $85,000, with platinum & diamond settings)

Fire opals come in such an array of accessories, you’re sure to find the quintessential piece for any outfit, occasion or even everyday wear.

What’s The Fire Opal Price Tag?

Fire opals can range anywhere from $100 – $10,000 USD. It’s setting (gold, diamond, platinum) can greatly increase the price range. If you, already imagine you or your loved on with such a piece on now, the next factor is price. Our site, gives in depth information on the prices of fire opals.

The price of a high quality fire opal on the market right now is (price per karat) Price, like in diamonds and other precious stones, is determined by a few factors:

• Clarity
• Color
• Size
• Cut

The color of of the fire opal makes it the most unique aspect in pricing and selection of the stone (one of the reasons that it is also unique among gems). It’s the color, the ‘fire’ that makes them fascinating and will ultimately determine it’s value. Fire opals color being the most unique aspect of the stone is not the only one that can raise the price. The clarity of the stone too, often value of the stone. Especially if you are shopping online, you’ll find fire opals at all price points. Depending upon the type of jewelry you are selecting (ring, bracelet, earrings, pendant) the prices will vary especially when it comes to the number of gems used, the setting (gold, silver), the setting kart and purity and complexity or other gems set along side fire opals. However here are a few examples below to give you an idea:

Valuation date: 03 Mar 2017
Value chart for Fire Opal. Data valid till: 17 Mar 2017
Values in USD per carat; ref. clarity = VVS, ref. cut = Excellent

Fire Opal Colors & Gem Style

Fire opals aren’t limited to just red and orange Mexican type gems. They also come in various other styles that can be eye catching and carry their own personality and people are often searching for.

Mexican – A bright orange to red transparent opal mined in Mexico, the largest supplier of fire opals.

Sunset – The opal features a unique cloudy formation that makes it appear as if the stone contains a miniature sky that is ablaze.

Blue – This opal is relatively rare and is only found in the Andes mountains near San Patricio, Peru. It is a very translucent stone with color similar to the Caribbean Sea, clear and calming.

White – White is the most common precious opal found on the jewelry market. The price is determined by intensity of iridescence.

Black – Black opal commands high prices with colors ranging from gray, black and blue to green. This dark background makes the intense presentation of color more visible

What makes fire opal great is it’s diverse and flickering flaming colors. If you spend time reading our reviews and looking through the various types and styles it is almost guaranteed you will stumble upon one that you fall in love with and truly represent you and who you are.

Fire Opal – The Story of Fire & Ash

In a quest to explore a continent not well known to the Western world. Louis Leakey, discovered the first known opals. Dating back to 4000 BC, the famous anthropologist, found the earliest known opal artifacts, believed to be originally from present day Ethiopia. The mining and discovery of opal was very similar to that of sapphire, ruby, diamond and the emerald.

In medieval times, Hungary mined opal for the Middle East and Europe. Across the ocean, Peru, Honduras, and Mexico supplied their civilizations with the gemstone. Spain was introduced to opal when conquistadors returned there with the precious stone in the early sixteenth century. This opal came to the known as fire opal.

Moving many hundreds of years and thousands of miles away, we come to opal in Australia. The island continent nation has dominated the market with more than ninety percent of the global market. Australia has been mining opal since the late 1800’s when modern day heating and air conditioning technology like gas powered furnaces, radiant heating, compressors, heat pumps and more haven’t been invented yet.

Opal of varying qualities occurs in more than twenty other countries, including Brazil, the USA, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Zambia, Poland, Peru, Canada, New Zealand and Indonesia.

The name opal is derived from ancient sources: the Sanskrit Upala – which means “precious stone”; the Latin Opalus; and the Greek Opallios which both mean”to see a color change”.

Opal in the Greek & Roman Empire

Opal is rooted in folklore. It was believed to amplify and mirror feelings as well as unearth buried desires and emotions. The early Greeks believed opal could bestow the ability to have foresight and prophecy upon its owner. Ancient Arabia believed the stone fell from heaven in flashes of lightning. The early Romans, considered opal to be a token of hope and purity.

The rich, powerful empire of ancient Rome provided the first real market for opal. Wealthy citizens indulged in many luxuries including a passion for gems. Opal with its colors that changed with even a slight shift of light, was rarer than diamonds and pearls.

One famous historical figure, was a lover of opal. Indeed, Mark Antony was said to have coveted an opal owned by Roman Senator Nonius so much that Mark Antony banished the Senator after he refused to sell the almond sized opal, reputed to be worth $80,000 USD.

Pliny thought the opals came from India, but the gems probably came from a much closer, lexx exotic locale. The opals that Pliny admired most likely came from mines situated near modern day Czech Republic. Pliny was deceived by dealers who had probably hoped to exploit the appeal of “oriental” imports. Central European opals have a milk-white background, usually with a pin-fire, small-size colour display. During the Middle Ages mines in Eastern Europe were the only source of European opal until the Spaniards acquired Aztec opal.

Many cultures thought the effect of the opal on sight could render the wearer invisible. Opals were set in the Crown jewels of France and Napoleon presented his Empress Josephine a magnificent red opal containing brilliant red flashes called “The Burning of Troy.”

The Choice of Queens

Opal’s reputation changed dramatically in the 18th and 19th centuries It was wrongly branded to be ‘bad luck’, and associated with pestilence, famine and the fall of monarchs. Queen Victoria, championed the fallen stone. She, single-handedly did much to bring back its quality reputation. Queen Victoria became a lover of opal, kept a personal collection, and wore opals throughout her reign.

Queen Victoria’s friends and her five daughters were presented with fine opals. Opal became highly sought after because the British Royal Court was regarded as the model for fashion around the world and fine quality opal had recently been discovered in far-off Australia. During the latter years of Queen Victoria’s long reign, various Australian opal fields were discovered and mined.

Mexico has the most significant location of Fire Opal in the world. The Mexican plateau, full of dormant volcanoes has intricately deposited opal lined rock. With only a few exceptions, the opal is hidden in niches and caves in canyons that and labyrinths carved into the mountains.