The color of the rainbow. The glow of the Northern Lights. The dramatic flash of summer lightning. All the colors of the evening sky are captured in the mysterious, shifting hues of Opal. With its pulsating display of fire and color, Opal was long thought to hold magical powers. For this reason, rare Opals were often reserved for royalty. The crown of the Holy Roman Emperor held a superb example, a fiery red Opal called “The Burning of Troy”. This was given as a gift from Napoleon to Josephine - forming part of the crown jewels of France. Queen Victoria also loved Opals, and often presented them as wedding gifts. The changeable color and flashing fire seen in Opal are symbolic of love, life, hope and truth. Its rainbow of color makes Opal an ideal fashion accessory with year-round appeal, particularly among those who seek drama and harmonic balance. Opal is often the chosen gem to celebrate those born in October. It also is the gem used to commemorate the 12th, 14th or 18th wedding anniversary.

Brilliant orange, shot through with bolts of flaming red or electrifying yellow. Fire Opal boasts bold, intense, juicy color - strengthened by the sparkle of a richly faceted surface and smoldering with interior fire. These are not your grandmother’s opals. Bursting with life and vitality, Mexican Fire Opal is a riot of dazzling color. One of the most vibrant gems of our time, Mexican Fire Opal brings a life to jewelry that demands attention. Its blazing orange color, one of the boldest of nature’s hues, communicates security and success as well as health and vitality. As the name suggests, Mexico is the country that produces this transparent opal. Unlike White Opal, Fire Opal is often faceted. The color and beauty of this gem is unaltered, making it appealing to shoppers looking for a vibrant, natural gem. The sunny brightness of Mexican Fire Opal combines especially well with cool-toned gems such as Peridot, Aquamarine and Amethyst. It also offsets earth toned gems like Smoky Quartz and Citrine. Larger sizes and alternative shapes of Mexican Fire Opal are frequently offered as part of the Black Box Gemstone® collection.