Opal Meaning: Types of Opal, Properties & Benefits

Opal is a gemstone of creativity, inspiration and hope. Known for its shifting colours, it is said to spark the imagination, encourage emotional expression and bring a sense of joy and wonder. There are many types of opal, from the flashing rainbow colours of Ethiopian and Australian opal to the soft pastel shades of Peruvian pink opal, and it is a birthstone for October.

Opal is unlike any other gem: it isn't a crystal at all, but a form of silica that holds water inside it. In this guide we'll explore the meaning of opal, the main types of opal and what each one is loved for, and how to look after this delicate stone.

Opal at a Glance

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Our pink opal comes from the Andes in Peru. Every piece is made in Cornwall, vegan and cruelty free.

Peruvian Pink Opal Hand Carved Vegan Silk Leaf Necklace£39Small Peruvian Pink Opal Hand Carved Wolf Necklace£42Peruvian Pink Opal Hand Carved Leaf Beaded Necklace£53

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What Is Opal?

Opal is made of tiny spheres of silica packed together with water trapped between them. In precious opal, the spheres are stacked in such neat rows that they split light into flashes of colour, an effect called play of colour. In common opal they are jumbled, so the stone shows soft, even colour instead. Most opal contains somewhere between a few per cent and a fifth of its weight in water, which is why it needs a little extra care.

Its name is thought to come from the Sanskrit upala, meaning precious stone, which became opalus in Latin.

Opal Meaning

Opal's shifting colours have made it a symbol of creativity, imagination and change. The Romans saw it as a stone of hope and purity, because it seemed to hold the colours of every other gem at once. Today opal is loved by artists, writers and dreamers, and by anyone who wants to express themselves more freely.

Opal Spiritual Meaning

Spiritually, opal is said to amplify your feelings and reflect them back to you, helping you understand your emotions and let them flow. It is linked with inspiration, intuition and authenticity: being fully, colourfully yourself.

Types of Opal

• Pink opal: a soft, pastel common opal from the Andes in Peru. It is the most loving of the opals, linked with the heart chakra, kindness and self love.
• Ethiopian opal: a bright precious opal from Ethiopia with vivid flashes of colour, linked with creativity and inspiration.
• Australian opal: the classic precious opal, including the famous black and boulder opals. Australia has produced most of the world's precious opal for over a century.
• Blue opal: often from Peru, a calm, sea blue opal linked with communication and peace.
• Green opal: a fresh green common opal linked with renewal, growth and the heart.
• Fire opal: an orange to red opal, mostly from Mexico, linked with energy, passion and warmth.

Opal Properties and Benefits

• Creativity: a favourite of artists and makers for sparking new ideas.
• Emotional expression: said to help you understand and share your feelings.
• Hope and joy: a bright, optimistic stone for fresh starts.
• Love: pink opal brings gentle, loving energy to the heart.
• Inspiration: linked with imagination, dreams and intuition.

Opal, Luck and Superstition

You may have heard that opal is unlucky. That idea only dates back to 1829, when Sir Walter Scott's novel Anne of Geierstein featured an opal linked with misfortune, and sales of opal fell for years afterwards. For most of history, opal was considered one of the luckiest stones of all, and Queen Victoria did much to restore its reputation by wearing and gifting it.

Opal as an October Birthstone

Opal is one of October's two birthstones, alongside tourmaline, which makes it a beautiful gift for anyone born in autumn. Read more in our October birthstone guide. Find your other star sign stones in our zodiac guide.

How to Wear Opal

• Everyday leaf: our pink opal leaf necklace is a soft, pretty piece for every day
• A little wolf magic: the pink opal wolf necklace pairs gentle opal with the strength of the wolf; see all our wolf necklaces
• Pair it: with rose quartz for love, or moonstone for intuition

How to Cleanse and Care for Opal

Opal is softer than many gems and holds water, so treat it kindly. Avoid heat, strong sunlight for long periods and sudden changes in temperature, which can cause cracking. Wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth rather than soaking it, and keep Ethiopian opal dry, as it can absorb water and turn cloudy for a while. Cleanse its energy with moonlight, sound or smoke. Read more in our guides to cleansing crystals and charging crystals.

Opal FAQs

What does opal mean?

Opal is a stone of creativity, inspiration, hope and emotional expression. Its shifting colours have made it a symbol of imagination and change for centuries.

What does opal mean spiritually?

Spiritually, opal is said to amplify your feelings and creativity and to help you express your true self. Pink opal is linked with the heart, and blue and green opals with calm and renewal.

What is pink opal good for?

Pink opal is a gentle, loving stone, linked with the heart chakra. It is loved for kindness, compassion and self love.

Is opal bad luck?

No. The idea comes from an 1829 novel by Sir Walter Scott in which an opal brings misfortune. Before that, opal was considered one of the luckiest stones of all, and Queen Victoria loved wearing it.

What is the difference between precious opal and common opal?

Precious opal shows play of colour, the flashing rainbow effect. Common opal, such as pink, blue and green opal, has soft solid colour without the flashes.

Can opal go in water?

Most opal can be wiped with a damp cloth, but avoid soaking it. Ethiopian opal can absorb water and turn cloudy for a while, so keep it dry.

Is opal a birthstone?

Yes. Opal is a birthstone for October, alongside tourmaline.

Explore more: discover more gentle, loving stones in our guides to rose quartz, moonstone and labradorite, read our October birthstone guide, or discover every stone in our A-Z crystal guide.

Keep reading: our guide to turquoise.