We can all use a little help, encouragement, and inspiration sometimes. Whatever you believe about the healing properties of gemstones, it’s undeniable: Jewelry empowers us. That’s the motivation behind our Gemstone Feature series. By sharing the stories of some of the gemstones gracing our latest Bloom pieces, we celebrate the countless ways jewelry brings positive energy to our lives.

Traditional October birthstone Opal — also the gemstone for the 14th wedding anniversary — is most known for its truly extraordinary appearance. Precious varieties of these magical-seeming stones seem to flash and sparkle with every color of the rainbow, bending light to break it into a playful, dancing array of spectral colors. Common Opals, however, do not have the same play of color, instead offering rich, vibrant colors, more muted visual effects, and a more earthy aesthetic. In other words, Opals can be thought to encompass both the stars and rainbows of the heavens, as well as the greens of the earth!

This October, Bloom Jewelry is celebrating the Opal by adding several new pieces featuring Green Opal (a common Opal) to our 2022 Opal Collection. So, whether you prefer the sparkling rainbows of more traditional Opals or the rainbow of fresh green hues of these fabulous Green Opals, Bloom has you covered! Read on to learn more about the history, meaning, and supposed healing properties of Opals in general — and Green Opals in particular.  

What Is the Meaning of Opal?

According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the meaning of Opal has historically been linked to truth, purity, hope, good luck, and magic. 

Indeed, the visually arresting Opal was believed by many cultures to have supernatural origins and powers. As GIA relates, Arabic legends said that Opal “falls from the heavens in flashes of lightning,” and that Opals gave their owners “the gift of prophecy and guarded them from disease.” The Romans thought that Opals were the most powerful and precious gemstone, since they could contain within them all of the colors of the other gemstones. 

What Are the Healing Properties of Opal?

October birthstone Opal’s supposed healing properties include: 

• Bringing good luck. Opals are not just the rainbow — they’re also thought by many to be akin to that lucky pot of gold at the end of that rainbow! Whether Opals bring luck or simply inspire it, we’re fond of any gemstone that reminds us of the value of hoping for better luck just around the next bend. 
• Helping to surface emotions and self-knowledge. One of Opal’s most prominent supposed healing properties is its ability to help wearers bring self-knowledge to the surface to be seen and understood. Those who seek to be more aware of their intuition and insight may find inspiration in Opals.  
• Encouraging creativity, spontaneity, and freedom. Opals are also thought to stimulate the mind, encouraging more spontaneous, independent, and original thought and action. 
• Supporting the ability to achieve one’s potential. In the right hands, self-knowledge can translate to self-realization. Some sources say that Opals can help wearers to make that journey successfully. 

What Makes Green Opal Special?

Green Opals can come in a range of shades, from lighter yellowish greens to deeply saturated emerald greens. While they don’t typically have the same play-of-color features as precious Opals, their earthy green coloring possesses its own special magic, and they may feature stunning natural inclusions. 

According to the website Opal Auctions, Green Opals are commonly associated with the heart and emotions, and may “help you to feel grounded in and in touch with your feelings.” Specifically, they are thought to assist in restoring emotional strength and helping to calm turbulent emotions and keep them from taking over. Green Opals, too, are associated with good luck, and in particular with bringing good fortune in relationships. Other sources suggest that the stone can help wearers to clear their minds and be more cognizant of, and present within, their surroundings.

Green Opal Jewelry for a More Gorgeous October

Our Green Opal Strung Choker Necklace (pictured) is a true celebration of these incredible gemstones. Each necklace features an array of green shades, such that no two necklaces are exactly alike. Wear it alone or layer with your other Bloom favorites. (We’re also happy to customize the length if you’d like!) For another option: We’ve also created a version of this Opal necklace featuring a gorgeous Gold Vermeil and Pave Diamond Pendant.

You needn’t look any further for coordinating earrings than this set of stunning Green Opal Bridge Linear Hoops. With rows of hand wrapped floating gemstones, these 14K Gold Filled earrings are sure to become a fast favorite in your jewelry wardrobe. 

Our adorable Green Opal & 14K Gold-Filled Paperclip Duo Bracelet (pictured), made with two of our most popular 14K Gold Filled Paperclip Chains, is a perfect year-round accessory. It can be clasped on any link of the chain, ensuring a perfect fit. Add it to your stack or wear it on its own. Want a few more Green Opals around that wrist? Try our Green Opal Paperclip Bracelet on for size. 

Ready to meet your new favorite layering necklace? We’re more than pleased to introduce you to our Green Opal & 14K Gold Filled Paperclip Duo Necklace, which adds the lovely Green Opal to Bloom’s paperclip signature layering necklace.

Still thinking about those sparkly, rainbow-filled White Opals? We totally get it! If dancing rainbows are more your style, we welcome you to check out our entire Opal Collection, which features a range of White Opal necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklets, and more. This recent blog may also offer some inspiration.