Peruvian Blue Opal is very rare, much more than Diamond. Out of the four tons that are annually mined, only ten percent is of gemstone quality. This is minuscule when compared to the hundreds of tons of diamond that are cut into faceted gems each year. Perhaps this is one reason it is scarcely seen set in fine jewelry.
Peruvian Blue Opal is very rare, much more than Diamond. Out of the four tons that are annually mined, only ten percent is of gemstone quality. This is miniscule when compared to the hundreds of tons of diamond that are cut into faceted gems each year. Perhaps this is one reason it is scarcely seen set in fine jewelry.
The Inca civilization, who are renowned for building Machu Picchu (one of the seven wonders of the world) considered Blue Opal as a most sacred and holy stone. They have used it in both jewelry and ritual for thousands of years.. For the Inca’s, Blue Opal was thought of as a gift from Pachamama.
Like her name suggest, ‘Mama Pacha’ was revered as Mother Earth, who presided over planting and harvest. She was also considered to be the mother of the heavens, where she presided over space and time.
Opal, is Opal, because of its molecular structure which is unique in the world of gems. Instead of the multiple sided polygons, characteristic of other gems, Opal is composed of spherical molecules. These tiny spheres are of different sizes and are arranged like a bunch of marbles thrown into all kinds of different bags. This is how they are able to exhibit such a wide spectrum of color play.
To the Greeks and Romans Opals were called a ‘paederos’ or the ‘favorite child’. “Legend tells of a dazzling gemstone (a magnificent Opal) set into Holy Roman Emperor’s crown, which was reputed to watch over the royal family”. (Wakters)
In ‘Twelfth Night’, Shakespeare referred to Opals as the “Queen of Gems”. At least they were for Queen Victoria. It wasn’t Diamonds or Rubies, it was Opals that she favored most.
Blue Opal is like the feminine side of the Opal family, rather then the fiery range of colors of its distant cousins, Blue Opal exhibits a beautiful, translucent blue-green color, that is reminiscent of the Caribbean sea. Its color is not to be found in any other gem and is caused by traces of copper in its chemical constitution.
Peruvian Blue Opal exudes soft relaxing energies. According to tradition they are said to take the tension out of communication and help ideas flow freely. Indeed, the transparent sea-blue color of Blue Opal soothes the eyes.
In energetic and psychological terms its influence is thought to soften the impact of stress and helps to release the trauma of past wounds. It facilitates facing the future with a tranquil healing nature.
Today Blue Opal is the national stone of Peru and is still highly respected by the descendants of the Inca’s, the Quechua Indians. Because of its rarity a lot of what is sold as BLue Opal on, E-bay and other sites are dyed imitations. For a good sized cabachon, of authentic Blue Opal, and depending on its quality, you can expect to pay between $75 to $800 a stone.
