Opal is better known as the ?Queen of Gems? by many. A very rare gem , opal is believed to have got its name from the Sanskrit word ?Upala? meaning ?precious stone?. Generally found in the cracks or cavities of rocks, Opal is a very delicate , fragile stone that needs careful handling as it is prone to scratches and breakage. Opal is considered the October stone - the birthstone of people born in the month of October.

Opals come in many different shades and colours. There are the Mexican fire Opals which you would find in colours ranging from red to orange to yellow. They are generally translucent. Then there is the Harlequin Opal which is the rarest kind. Black Opals are the one's which are in very high demand unlike the light coloured ones. Australia is the largest supplier of Opals in the world catering for more than 98% of the world's opal supply. Black Opals are very unique gemstones. It has various colours on it. Then there are also the opals which are white and light blue in colour. You will also find crystal opals which are just like crystals with a transparent setting. The Common opal is not considered a precious stone and is opaque in nature.

The Australian Opals are very popular and are much sought after gems . The black opals from Australia are considered to be very rare and precious. Black Opal Jewelry is very rare and the reason for this is that it is found only in one place on earth i.e. the Lighting Ridge in New South Wales, Australia. Brazilian and Peruvian Opals are also good Opals. The Peruvian opal ranges from semi-opaque to opaque. Apart from these countries Opals are found in places such as Zambia, New Zealand, Mexico, Ethiopia and Indonesia.

Opal is used a lot in the making of fine jewellery. People are spending a lot today on jewellery and it comes as no surprise that fine opal jewelry has a very big market. Opal rings, earrings pendants, opal decorated watches are very popular and make wonderful gifts. In South Australia, the official gemstone is the Opal. The Australian Women's basketball team is also known as the Opals. Opals are bought not only in the form of jewellery. People buy loose opals and these are generally procured by collectors. These loose stones would be of the high end quality and the most precious ones. They are more so a form of investment. These investment opals as they are termed are a priced possession of the collector. These gemstones being very rare especially the Australian black opals, are a real collectors item. Opals as an investment are a very good choice. Investing in Opals has become a growing trend with people making an investment not only in loose opals but also opal jewellery.