The yellow Opal is a lovely gemstone for jewelry. It is attractive and can be found in many different shapes and sizes. They are often sought after by collectors, but they’re also popular with people who want to make their jewelry at home.
Below is everything you need to know about the yellow Opal: where it comes from, its history, how it’s used, and whether or not you should buy one for yourself!
Yellow Opal is a type of precious Opal with a golden yellow color. Many people love this beautiful gemstone for its radiant appearance.
Yellow Opals are silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and other minerals like water, potassium, etc. They have the same chemical composition as regular white or Black Opal. They are formed in weathered rocks and soil fissures, exposed to oxygen for millions of years.
They can be found anywhere in Australia, mainly in Queensland and New South Wales. However, there have been yellow Opal finds in Tasmania as well. The most notable place that produces this gemstone is Andamooka opal fields.
The price for this precious stone depends on its color, opacity, and patterning. Golden yellow colors are the most valuable types of opals, so they come with a higher value than any other type of stone. Many factors influence an opal’s quality, such as the play of color, radiance, and opacity.
Like other precious opals, yellow ones are very fragile and must be handled with utmost care while cleaning or storing them. An amateur person can’t identify a natural golden-colored Australian opal from fake stones that look similar. The only way to ensure its authenticity is by looking for the country of origin and certificate.
A brief history of the Yellow Opal Gemstone
Opal is a stone that has captured the imaginations of people for centuries. It comes in many colors, but it’s well-known as one of the most beautiful forms, thanks to its brilliant yellow hues. Yellow opal jewelry is versatile and looks great with all sorts of outfits, making it an ideal companion on your special day.
The history of yellow Opal begins in Brazil, where it was first discovered by a miner named Nelio Bugno back in the late 19th century while he was working with his brothers at their family’s mine. He cut off many pieces about two inches high and one inch wide into slabs to create yellow opal cabochons and beads.
Experts believe that it’s likely yellow Opal was formed along with the formation of precious gems such as emerald, sapphire, topaz, or diamond in a complex process involving water seeping through fissures where quartzite rock has been subjected to heat and pressure for thousands of years.
Opal is formed that contains all the colors of the rainbow plus white light with flashes and dots of color from within. The stone is thought to have been worn by ancient Egyptians as far back as 330 B.C., but it was also treasured in Rome, where they believed wearing yellow opals could keep them safe from diseases. They were also placed in mummies’ eyes when buried to help them see after death.
The stone was believed to bring clarity and extrasensory perception, which is why it’s often used for divination today by artists who use their intuition or psychic energy while creating opal jewelry pieces.
Gemstones have been found in many regions of the world, including Australia, where they’ve been mined since 1865. It is there that opal mining began and is still a primary industry today.
The largest deposits can be found near Coober Pedy, once an Aboriginal settlement for thousands of years until settlers from Europe arrived in the 19th century. Now it’s a tourist destination where visitors can explore old opal mines and even go on underground tours of the mine caves.
Yellow Opal Gemstone in the modern world
When you look at this gemstone, you can see that it combines yellow and green. The opaline silica’s effect is also responsible for its iridescence when exposed to different angles in the light.
The yellow opal gemstone was believed to be able to ward off evil spirits during earlier times. It was used as a talisman stone to protect people from illness and other dangers. It was also a lucky charm for gamblers during the early days of horse races in Australia. The Opal was also once believed to be a symbol of wealth, prosperity, and hope.
This gemstone is still used for different jewelry pieces – from rings, earrings, brooches, pendants, or bracelets. The yellow color can represent happiness, while the green represents growth and success in life.
Other Types of Yellow Opal Gemstone
The opal gemstone is diverse in its colors, textures, and types. But there are other yellow opals that you haven’t heard of, with unique characteristics!
Golden South Sea Opal: The golden south sea has a beautiful color because it absorbs light very well, making the stone look much more colorful than it is. It can be found in many colors, but the golden yellow color that we all know and love comes from a combination of trace amounts of iron oxide and water molecules, giving off its beautiful appearance.
Lemon Opal: This type of Opal is fascinating because it will look apparent and colorless when you hold the stone up to a light source. But when you turn it over or move your hand in a certain way so that one of its surfaces is exposed to direct sunlight, an unforgettable yellow-orange fire can be seen from within the Opal!
Fire Opals: Although they may be known for their orange-red color, fire opals can also be found in other colors like yellow. They are much rarer than the red type, and consequently, they’re usually less expensive!
Uses of the Yellow Opal Gemstone
The yellow Opal is a rare gemstone that has many uses. Its most common use is as an ornamental stone, but it can also be used in jewelry and watches to make them more aesthetically pleasing. However, the main reason people purchase yellow Opal is its healing properties. Yellow opals are believed to have a calming effect that can help to ease people’s anxiety and stress. Many hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies use yellow opals in their decor because these stones positively impact the overall mood of patients receiving care.
In addition to being used as an ornamental stone, jewelry gemstone, or healing tool, the yellow Opal is also used as a material in watches because it has an attractive appearance and can be easily molded. Many people enjoy owning jewelry pieces made from this stone, but many more purchase them for healing purposes.
Yellow Opal is a type of precious Opal with a golden yellow color. Many people love this beautiful gemstone for its radiant appearance.
In addition, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies all decorate their spaces with these gemstones due to their positive effect on the mood of patients. Finally, watches are also made with these stones because of their look and moldability.
Tips on how to take care of my Yellow Opal Gemstone
Please keep it in a place where there is minimal sunlight exposure.
Avoid using soap to clean the stone. Instead, you can use warm water and mild shampoo or dishwashing liquid. Ensure all soapy residues have been rinsed off before leaving it out to dry on a paper towel.
Avoid wearing it while doing physical work. Wearing the ring when working out in the garden, for example, can damage your opal gemstone because of its porous nature.
Do not clean this yellow Opal gemstone with ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or steamer. These machines have a way of penetrating deeper inside the stone and can cause cracks.
Do not store this gemstone in an airtight container with other jewelry pieces because it will absorb some of their chemicals. It may result in a change in its color or composition over time.
Avoid using soap to clean the stone. Instead, you can use warm water and mild shampoo or dishwashing liquid. Ensure all soapy residues have been rinsed off before leaving it out to dry on a paper towel.
Interesting facts about Yellow Opal Gemstone that you didn’t know
Yellow Opal is a stone associated with the sun and fire.
The stone was given its name because of its color resemblance to opals and this strong connection to the Sun God Apollo in Greek Mythology.
It’s not just the pretty yellow stones we’re talking about here but also the color of honey, making it an even more exciting gemstone choice.
Yellow Opal is a relatively rare stone and is only mined in Brazil.
The stones are found in the Serra de Monchique mountain range (in the Algarve region of Portugal). It’s believed that the volcanic eruption in this area created these yellow opals.
FAQS about Yellow Opal Gemstone
What is Yellow Opal?
Yellow opals are a beautiful type of Opal that contains both the play of color and an orangish body tone. Thus they are the most trendy types of opals globally, especially when they have bright, vivid colors!
Why do people love yellow opals?
Yellow Opal is one of the most sought-after types of Opal globally, especially when they have bright, vivid colors! People love them because they are beautiful and magical. They make any outfit pop with its vibrant color. Plus, since yellow can be paired with many different outfits, it’s easy to find a perfect match for any occasion.
How much do yellow opals cost?
The cost of yellow Opal can vary greatly depending on the quality and size and where they were mined from. However, most high-quality stones will range between $20-$100 per carat.
What is the value of yellow Opal?
The color and pattern can give a very high-valued gem to an otherwise low-valued stone.
Who mined the first Australian Opal? What was it used for?
There are many different types of mining, each with its history and process that has led modern miners in their efforts.
The first Australian Opal was found in 1861, not far from the town of Kununurra on Lake Argyle. The opals were used to make buttons and beads for necklaces by people around this area. It is now one of Australia’s most valuable gemstones.
What is the difference between opal doublets and triplets?
A triplet is an Opal that has been joined with black backing (usually of ironstone, basalt, or wood) to make it more durable.
An opal doublet consists of an internal layer of precious Opal glued onto common Opal, which acts as the base. A pair can make the Opal more durable, but it will reduce its play of color.
The layer is not used to hold the stone in place; instead, it has adhered because of the moisture trapped between them during formation (similar to amber).A triplet offers a less expensive alternative for an opal engagement ring.
What is the difference between white Opal and yellow Opal?
While both types of onyx gemstones come in various colors, slight differences exist in their color range. For example, while some varieties of White Opal can be found in bright yellows or oranges, Yellow Opals tend to be a bit more muted in their colors.
Is Yellow Opal a Cancer or Taurus stone?
Yellow opals are an earthy symbol of the zodiac signs Virgo and Capricorn. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways to use it! It is also associated with Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
What does yellow Opal look like?
Yellow Opals have a transparent body color with an intense play of colors. They range from pale golden to deep orange and even slightly brownish shades. Yellow Opal is famous for its bright flashes of green or blue-green that resemble precious emeralds in the sunlight!
What is yellow Opal’s hardness?
Yellow Opals are a little more complex than the white and black varieties, having much less water in their structure. They have been as soft as talc up to about six or seven on the Mohs’ ten scales. However, quartz is a seven on the Mohs’ scale of ten if you want to get technical.
What colors does yellow Opal come in?
Yellow Opals can be found in many different shades and hues of transparent gold to bright orange-yellow with colorful flashes ranging from dark green or blue-green to red. The fire displayed by this gemstone is truly incredible.
What colors make yellow Opal?
When heated, Yellow Opals can be turned into a rich and vivid orange color, while the lighter shades will become more of an apricot or honey-golden shade. Some stones display both types of color depending on their thickness. A unique heating process is required to reach this color. The stone must be heated in a sodium nitrate solution for several days; even then, it will only turn orange about half the time.
What are some yellow opal facts?
Yellow Opals can also have an interesting phenomenon called “play of colors” or “fire.” This unique effect makes the stone look like it has an internal light source and radiates in different colors, such as blue-green, red, or orange. The intensity of this phenomenon depends on how thick the stone is.