The Myths and Superstitions Behind The Opal?

You hardly ever hear tell of an engagement ring designer specialising in opal rings, nor of anyone looking for the perfect opal for the centre stone of their engagement band. The suspicions and legends surrounding the opal are so many and widespread that it is hard to remember the positive connotations that the stone has, such as it impact on improving eyesight and giving powers of prophecy if used correctly.

The opal gemstone has widely been associated with evil powers since the stories of olden day witches and wizards using them to charge their black magic began. Hungarian opal mines added to these superstitions surrounding the stone when a Roman Emperor was given an opal crown. The crown was said to represent his evil eye as it watched over Europe searching for a new place to invade and conquer.

Despite the constant fear that the opal conjured in the minds of many, some people attempted to clear the stone’s name and started a counter legend. The counter folklore backfired and by trying to convince people that opals were the opposite of the evil and unholy stone of their reputation proved fruitless. The legends and myths continued to be believed and people truly thought that the opal really was the epitome of evil.

The opal saw a brief period of relief in the late nineteenth century when Queen Victoria brought the stone some popularity and often wore opals in her jewellery during her reign of England. It is of course true that opals did not get a bad press from everyone in history. The Romans did not think ill of the stone but instead believed that the opal was the combination of all beautiful and precious stones. Roman rulers were also known to give their wives opal stones as symbols of good luck because to them the gem was representative of hope and purity.

The stone has fought to shake off rumours of its bad luck for years and has arguably had a tough press. Even today, although the belief has somewhat fallen away and many engagement ring designers make some beautiful opal pieces, the superstition still puts some people off. The theory is of course disprovable and it is up to you to make up your own mind, but if the opal appeals to you, find yourself an engagement ring designer in the non-believers camp.

Whatever your opinion on the stone, it’s superstitions and qualities have been debated and discussed for centuries. The stone is considered a gem and a beautiful one at that but if you believe in witches and curses it might be one to tell your engagement ring designer to avoid.

Frank L Orman is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose the best and the most unique engagement ring designers in the UK. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.