Opalite is an artificial stone made from glass and multi-colored shiny elements. Real minerals are rarely found in jewelry stores. As a rule, products are inlaid with high-quality artificial elements. I recently bought a piece of jewelry with a moonstone, and the seller assured me that it was a genuine gem, but the tag said “scorch.” I became interested in finding out what he really was, and the result surprised me.
How opalite was discovered
Opalite is an artificial glass stone.
Natural opals and moonstones of jewelry quality without defects and chips are quite rare in nature, so the cost of such minerals is high. This gave impetus to studying the possibilities of producing artificial analogues. The first attempts were made in Ancient Rome. In those days, the technology for making glass products was imperfect. The first high-quality imitation of opal in laboratory conditions was obtained in 1972 by Pierre Gilson.
Now opalites are produced in:
- Switzerland;
- USA;
- Japan;
- China;
- India;
- France.
The technology for making such gems is constantly being improved. Nowadays, in the production of stones, special opal glass with the addition of calcium phosphate, aluminum and sodium fluoride, calcium fluoride, etc. is used. The material is painted evenly. In addition, the resulting specimens are carefully polished with sugar paste.
Place of Birth
Mined opals come in 2 genetic types. Hydrothermal samples are of volcanic origin and are mined from igneous (effusive) rocks; exogenous opals are found in ancient weathering crusts.
For almost 1000 years, until the end of the 19th century, the largest deposits of opals were localized in Austria-Hungary, on the territory of modern Slovakia. However, the mines became depleted over time and production was reduced.
By that time, deposits had been discovered in Mexico, and active mining of gems had also begun in Australia, where the largest deposit of precious opal, Coober Pedy, was discovered in 1915. At the moment, Australia is the main supplier of these gems, including rare noble species. The continent accounts for about 95% of proven reserves.
Promising deposits of noble specimens are located in Brazil. Ethiopia, Honduras, Peru, the USA, and Kazakhstan are famous for deposits of valuable varieties. In Russia, precious opals are mined in small quantities in the Primorsky Territory. Common opals are more common, and small deposits exist on all continents except Antarctica.
Appearance of moonstone
Now manufacturers produce opalites of all colors. The line includes both samples that imitate natural stones and samples of unusual shades. Their peculiarity is the optical light effect that occurs due to the refraction of rays when they are reflected from particles of additives present inside the glass.
Color variations
In the classification used in jewelry, there are the following color groups of opalites:
- Black - all specimens of dark shades, incl. dark green, blue, black, etc.
- Pink - pink and yellow-orange opalites.
- "Harlequin" - specimens of white and blue shades with iridescence and a characteristic glow.
- "Dragon's Breath" - transparent bright red samples.
- “Sea” - opalites of blue-green shades.
- "Oxblood" - opaque red specimens.
Opalite comes in different shapes, colors and sizes.
How to distinguish natural stone
It is incorrect to consider opalite as a fake of opal and moonstone. The gem obtained in laboratory conditions is an independent semi-precious crystal. However, passing off opalite as natural opal is a scam. There are a number of parameters that allow you to distinguish between these gems.
The naturally occurring mineral has a layered structure, which results in light being reflected at different angles. This creates the effect of sunbeams inside the sample. Reflections can be of different colors. Opalites have a uniform glow. A similar effect occurs due to the homogeneity of the structure.
To verify the authenticity of a stone, X-rays are often used. Under this influence, a white-violet light emanates from the opal. Opalite does not have such an effect.
To determine whether a stone is natural, you can use a magnifying glass. When magnified, the layered structure is clearly visible.
To determine natural opal, a water test is often used. In this environment, the natural gem will become brighter, and the artificial one will fade. Opalite is characterized by greater thermal conductivity. Glass heats up faster than natural gemstones. Natural opal must have a certificate of conformity. This document indicates the name of the mineral, as well as its country of origin.
You can check the authenticity of a gem using water.
Common opal
Ordinary opals generally include opals that are colorless and devoid of play of colors, the value of which as an ornamental material is determined by their transparency or the beauty of the design. Common opals also include milky opal, hyalite, opaque to semi-transparent stones of other common colors, wood opal, rock-forming opal silica, etc.
Hyalite (or hyaline variety of opal). It is a colorless and transparent stone like glass. It is often found in the form of crusts with a grape-shaped, spherical or kidney-shaped surface, as well as in the form of stalactites. Sometimes slightly colored, usually in blue, green, greenish-yellow or yellowish tones, there are gradual transitions into translucent milky or white varieties. Hyalite typically has a higher refractive index and lower water content than most opals. The name hyalite comes from the Greek word sakhos, which means glass.
Hydrophane . A white or light-colored translucent to opaque variety of opal that becomes almost transparent when immersed in water.
Tabashir (Tabasheer, tabashir). These are accumulations of milky white opalescent silica deposited in bamboo partitions. Its density is 0.5–0.6, and N is about 1.12. The dried material absorbs water very strongly and becomes transparent.
Cacholong . An opaque, porcelain-like, white to yellowish variety of opal with a pearlescent luster; quite porous, but it does not become transparent after immersion in water.
Milk opal. Translucent to opaque varieties of common opal are milky white, pale bluish white, or greenish white.
Resin opal, matte yellow with a resinous sheen.
Woody opal is a pseudomorph (false form) of wood.
Who is the stone suitable for?
Products with stones must be selected taking into account individual compatibility. To determine it, you should take into account your date of birth, name and zodiac sign.
By name
If the opalite is compatible with the owner's name, it will bring good luck and have a positive effect on the person's health. The stone compensates for missing character traits and minimizes negative personality traits.
Opalite is well suited for owners of the following names:
- Irina;
- Anastasia;
- Olesya;
- Elena;
- Ruslan;
- Novel.
Names of people with whom Opalite is compatible.
Horoscope
Opalite is compatible with all zodiac signs belonging to the element of Water. It suits Scorpios, Cancers, Aquarius and Pisces well. For people born under these signs, the stone will become an emotional balancer. The gem will relieve anxiety and worries. Virgos will also benefit greatly from contact with opalite. The stone will help you find love and create a strong family. Wearing jewelry with opalite is recommended for Libra. The gem will help people of this zodiac sign to reveal their talents.
Favorable time to buy
If the opal is intended to be used as a magical or healing opal, it is better to buy it, bring it home and start using it, taking into account the lunar phases.
Type of opal | Purchase (lunar day) | Beginning of use (lunar day) |
white | 4 | 18 |
lactic | 14 | 28 |
fiery | 25 | 11 |
rest | 15 | 29/30 |
What does scorch stone cure?
It is believed that contact with opalite helps eliminate stress and chronic inflammatory processes. In addition, this gem, in combination with other traditional medicine, helps a person get rid of nervous tension and reduces the risk of emotional breakdowns. In people suffering from epilepsy, contact with opalite reduces the number of seizures. The gem relieves nightmares and improves sleep quality.
Opalite improves night sleep.
Opalite has a beneficial effect on the condition of the digestive and urinary systems. Contact with this stone prevents the formation of kidney stones. The gem helps eliminate inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. In addition, it reduces the severity of asthma symptoms. Opalite has a beneficial effect on hematopoietic processes and improves hormonal levels.
Jewelry with a gem is recommended for pregnant women. This will have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy and will facilitate the birth process.
What care does opal jewelry need?
Natural minerals contain from 6 to 10% water. Such a high liquid content is due to the fact that the precious opal stone has a very porous structure. In this regard, gems perfectly absorb not only moisture, but also other substances: cosmetics, perfume, hairspray. Of course, all these means cause serious damage to the stone. In addition, opal cannot boast of great hardness, like, for example, diamond. This means that the stones are easily exposed to external influences and can be scratched.
To ensure that jewelry with marvelous minerals lasts as long as possible, owners should follow a few simple rules:
- Jewelry with opal inserts should not be worn at the same time as other jewelry. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the stones due to friction.
- It is recommended to store opals and jewelry with them in separate boxes with a soft finish or in small bags. The gems should first be wrapped in soft cloth. In this case, they will definitely not be harmed.
- It is recommended to remove jewelry before using deodorant, perfume or hairspray. You should not wear them when applying makeup either.
- It is necessary to carefully wash your jewelry periodically. Warm water in which a non-aggressive detergent is dissolved is perfect for this procedure. It is best to clean with a soft toothbrush or cloth. You need to be extremely careful not to harm the stone.
- Jewelry should be removed when washing hands and face. Excess moisture can negatively affect the shade of the mineral.
- From time to time it is necessary to lubricate the pebbles with a soft cloth slightly moistened with glycerin. This procedure helps to maintain the necessary moisture content of the opal and prevent dehydration, preventing the formation of cracks.
If you follow these simple recommendations, opal will retain its qualities and impeccable appearance for a long time. Luxurious jewelry with a marvelous mineral will delight you for many years.
Magical properties of the stone
Esotericists believe that the Moon gives opalite its magical power. The gem is able to enhance the spiritual component of the owner and attract material wealth. The energy of the stone increases during the full moon and decreases during the darkening of the moon.
The spiritual component of the owner
Artificial moonstone is a powerful amulet that protects against damage and other negative magical effects. Opalite enhances a person's creative abilities and helps to find inspiration. The stone has a beneficial effect on character traits, reducing aggressiveness and temper.
Contact with a gem helps to find peace of mind and moderate arrogance. In addition, under the influence of this stone a person becomes more kind and tolerant of others. Opalite is used in spiritual practices and meditation.
The stone is recommended to be used during meditation.
Material wealth
The gem helps a person concentrate on performing work duties. This contributes to rapid advancement on the career ladder. Opalite attracts good luck. For people involved in business, the gem will help them make useful contacts.
Opalite attracts material well-being. Under the influence of the gem, a person will successfully invest money. When contacting a stone, there is a high probability of receiving unexpected material benefits from distant relatives.
Relationships and love
For single people, the gem will help them meet their other half. The influence of opalite helps improve family relationships. Spouses, even after a long period of resentment and quarrels, will come to mutual understanding.
The flickering of opalite contributes to the emergence of common goals and interests between men and women. This will revive old feelings and bring passion back into the relationship. It is believed that artificial moonstone protects against betrayal and betrayal in the family.
Opals: facts from history and events of our days
The love for precious opal stones was passed on to modern people from our distant ancestors. The ancient Roman writer Pliny called the mineral “the love of a youth.” And the Roman senator Nonnius, who had real wealth - a magnificent ring with a large opal, ended his life in poverty and exile. He never agreed to exchange his beloved item for the untold riches that Mark Antony promised him.
An insert of a luxurious gem was present in the crown of Emperor Constantine, who ruled the Holy Roman Empire. The noble person firmly believed in the magical properties of opal. Constantine believed that the mineral protected the power, life and honor of its owner. He also had no doubt that the gem was capable of making its owner invisible in case of special need. This belief was the reason that in medieval times opal gained fame as a talisman for robbers and thieves. Aristocrats turned away for a long time from the noble stone, which had a bad reputation. He was considered the main attribute of black magicians and alchemists, the “eye of evil.”
A few decades later, the precious stone opal came back into fashion. He was especially popular with blondes. Blonde ladies believed that jewelry made from an unusual stone could make blond hair even more beautiful. The reigning people could not remain indifferent to the beautiful mineral.
Silver SOKOLOV earrings with cubic zirconia and opals (go to the SUNLIGHT catalog)
Various types of opals were held in special esteem by the Italian Medici family, Queen Victoria of England, the Frenchwoman Josephine Bonaparte and the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
Gems gained particular popularity throughout the world after rich Australian deposits were discovered. To this day, about 90% of specimens are mined in this country. It was here that the largest representatives of the species were found - black Australian opals. But this discovery was not the most unusual. In 1909, experts discovered in one of the opal mines the skeleton of a reptile resembling a snake. Its length was about 15 cm. But the most unusual thing was that the skeleton was completely opalized, all its parts were replaced by pebbles. The original find was sold to a private collection.
How to choose talismans and amulets with opalite
It is better to buy rings and earrings with opalite as a talisman. Being on the owner’s hand, the gem will attract good luck to business and make all of a person’s undertakings profitable. Wearing earrings with this stone eliminates unnecessary thoughts, helping you concentrate on your goals. Such a talisman will eliminate unnecessary doubts and help you find happiness in your personal life. It is better to use pendants made of silver with opalite as an amulet. The product will protect a person from any negative magical effects. The amulet will help get rid of hidden ill-wishers.
Jewelry with opalite gives the owner luck and prosperity.
Form of being in nature
It occurs in the form of cortical formations with a grape-shaped, globular, kidney-shaped or wavy surface; in the form of stalactite-like or coral-shaped masses; in the form of tuberous or irregularly shaped nodules. Typically, opal is confined to cavities and veins. It also forms siliceous tuffs and geyserites of porous or massive composition; the structures of such formations are very diverse - fibrous, leafy, shell-like, spongy (some accumulations of opal are similar in appearance to cauliflower), scaly-massive and massive. In addition, the stone acts as a rock-forming mineral, composing thick layers of diatomites, loose or firmly cemented and dense.
Care and wear of opalite
Opalite is a fairly fragile material, so products with it must be worn carefully. A fall or other accidental mechanical impact can lead to chips and cracks. In addition, this gem is not resistant to household chemicals and temperature changes. It is necessary to avoid prolonged exposure of the stone to direct sunlight.
Opalite requires careful care. Approximately once every 2 weeks, wash the product in warm soapy water and rub with a soft velor cloth. It is better to store such jewelry in a fabric case.
The magic of procreation
The magic of cacholong is female. This is a powerful amulet for every woman.
The father must give his daughter a product with a gem. So she will always be protected by the power of the great mother Earth. She will help keep the girl clean. For a woman, the mineral will become a faithful assistant in motherhood. She will always have milk for the baby, the stamina to survive sleepless nights. And wisdom, affection, firmness in the fight against the hormonal war of a grown-up child.
The magical properties of cacholong are suitable for people of humanitarian professions.
The energy of the gem will be included in the healer’s work and will help find problems in the patient’s body.
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Interesting: a ring with cacholong will help you avoid falling into poverty and even improve the thickness of your wallet.
The magic of cacholong is pure, “white”. The stone does not accept evil deeds so much that in its presence black magic fails.
Help from the stars
Cacholong is ruled by Venus and the Moon. The mineral is subordinate to the elements of the Earth.
Important: buy jewelry for the waxing Moon, but wear them for the first time on the 22nd lunar day.
The stone has a strong influence on the signs of the Zodiac, and not always favorable.
The gem is least suitable for the fire signs of the Zodiac (Aries, Sagittarius, and to a lesser extent Leo). The same story with Scorpios. The stone is “tailored” to the emotional attunement of the owner. The owner is agitated and angry - the stone will aggravate this condition.
With the help of a gem, Pisces will be able to discover the gift of a healer.
Libra's financial situation may improve.
The stone will open most fully for Taurus.
Important: in winter and autumn the energy of the stone works more actively.