Opale

The name opal comes from the Sanskrit "upala" meaning precious stone.

Since the Middle Ages, a great deal of superstition has surrounded this stone, and many have considered it to bring bad luck. It wasn't until the end of the 19th century that opals became popular again, thanks in no small part to Queen Victoria. Opals are gems composed of uncrystallized beads of silica, held together by a hydrated gel. The arrangement of these beads determines the nature of the opal. Common opals are composed of disordered beads. Conversely, we speak of noble opalsthe most coveted, when they are ordered. It is this organization of noble opals that creates the characteristic and highly sought-after play of colors. The color of these sets depends on the size of the silica beads. Today, Australia is the world's leading producer. The majority of stones are extracted from the Cooper Pedy and Lightning Ridge deposits, and feature a black background with strong play of color. Unlike noble opals common opals opals are opaque and do not display this play of colors. Their color is not due to the diffraction of light, but to chemical impurities present in the silica beads that form the opal.

Opals are one of the most precious gems and adorn some of the finest jewelry. Mainly cabochon-cut, except for fire opals which can be faceted, they can be set in rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings or even piercing jewelry. Jacquie Aiche uses pearl opals to create her ethnic-chic necklaces, as does M.Cohen and his bracelets for men.

Patrick Voillot and Alexandra Abramczyk give this stone a central place on their "cocktail" rings. Patrick Voillot highlights the play of color with diamond pavé, while Alexandra exacerbates it with colored stones.

Common opals with their more pastel appearance can also be the centerpiece of a jewelry creation. This is the case for the Kalananga ring by Carole Guezthe leaf earring d'Alexandra Abramczyk or the feather charms by Jacquie Aiche. Increasingly popular, opals are also used for earrings. Maria Tash uses the stone cut into small beads or spikes for her piercings. The bewitching appearance of opal inspires many designers and enables unprecedented creativity.