![]() Olympic Australis – This is the world’s largest and most valuable opal it was uncovered in Coober Pedy in Australia, during the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956.Some have achieved enough popularity to be part of the list of the most precious jewels around the globe: Like other gemstones, opals vary in regard to quality and value. Image : 18ct White Gold 10.91ct Green Tourmaline and Diamond Cocktail Ring FAMOUS OPALS AROUND THE WORLD Nevertheless, fine bright-coloured gem-quality tourmaline is rare to find, and the price of these stones is usually tied to their hues. Today, deposits of tourmaline can be found all over the world, from Australia and Nepal to Russia, Sri Lanka and the United States. ![]() When the government collapsed in 1912, trade of this gemstone was affected worldwide. The Chinese Empress Dowager Tz’u Hsi was fond of pink tourmalines and often purchased them from deposits in California. Tourmaline was incredibly important in China, as the country was also the biggest market for the stone. The Dutch brought Sri Lankan tourmaline toĮurope for many centuries as well, until it was discovered that the stone was the same as schorl. This misunderstanding continued until the 1800s when the stone was finally recognised as tourmaline. However, even though this gem has left traces throughout history, the earliest records regarding the discovery of tourmaline point to the 16 th century in Brazil.Ī Spanish conquistador uncovered a green tourmaline gem that he initially mistook for an emerald. The gemstone also has to be cut in such a way that allows for all colours to be noticed in a mere glance therefore, working with tourmaline requires a lot of precision.Īncient Egyptians believed that this stone passed through a rainbow and the earth until it reached the surface of the planet, which was the cause of its beautiful colours. This gemstone stands apart from others because it’s not one mineral, but a complex group of minerals with different chemical compositions and properties. The name ‘tourmaline’ is believed to have been derived from the Sinhalese words ‘tura mali’, which means ‘stone of mixed colours’. Image : 18ct Yellow Gold 3.42ct Opal and Diamond Cluster Ring HISTORY OF THE TOURMALINE Shape – This gemstone comes in many different shapes, with the rarest type being the ‘pipe’ opal, which forms in sandstone and possesses some iron-ore content. Hardness – Opals range between 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it a delicate stone that can crack under extreme temperature or light. Some hues are more common, such as the white and green, while black is the rarest. Because of this diffraction, opals can take on a unique range of colours. This gorgeous October birthstone is sought-after for its fantastic properties, such as:Ĭolour – Opals diffract light to show a beautiful array of colours the ‘ideal opal’ displays wide patterns on the surface with all colours of the rainbow, including red. With these and more wonderful properties, October’s birthstones can suit a wide range of personal tastes. They’re also rich in symbolism and have been attributed to divinity and royalty over the years. Their stunning appearance makes them popular and widely used in jewellery. Both gems are equally beautiful and elegant, with the tourmaline being available in a rainbow of gorgeous colours, and the opal possessing unique colour combinations. The opal and the tourmaline make up the two birthstones for the month of October.
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