Opals

Well it's early October so why not make some birthstone jewelry if you are an October baby or know someone who is. The birthstone for October is the opal. The vast majority of opals come from South Australia. They are formed from silica and possess colorful opalescent qualities which set them apart from other stones. An opal may contain several of the following colors: red, pink, violet, orange, yellow, green and blue. The more colors present, the more valuable the opal is. There are a few different types of opals, including the black opal, white opal, boulder opal and crystal opal. The black opal is the most desired type of opal. There are also man made or synthetic opals that are produced in a laboratory. They often contain brighter colors and are larger than an authentic stone. I found this great site on opals with a lot of helpful information including the origin of opals and descriptions of the different kinds. I also found a great tutorial on diy for making New Mom Birthstone Bracelets which can easily be altered to just birthstone bracelets. Have fun crafting and happy birthday to all those October babies out there!!