The opal is one of the most beautiful gemstones found in Brazil, yet this stone or gemstone is not so well known here.
That’s a shame, because as well as being valuable, opal is beautiful and its brilliance is truly impressive. It can reflect all the colours of the spectrum and is even brighter than diamonds.
The name ‘opal’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘upala’, which translates into Portuguese as ‘precious stone’.
Speaking of precious, good quality opals are so highly valued around the world that they can cost up to US$20,000 per carat.
But there is also excellent quality opal jewellery available at a more affordable price.
If you don’t know much about opal, read on to learn more about this gemstone!
Video about the opal stone that has conquered the world’s jewellers
Pedra Opala conquistou as joalherias do mundo inteiro
See also Pedro II is a city full of history, precious stones and archaeological sites.
What is opal?
This gemstone is a hydrated amorphous silica with a water content of up to 30 percent.
The colour of an opal can be uniform and milky, but more often than not, several shades of gemstones can be mixed together in a single opal. This is because light is diffracted within the stone, creating an incredible play of colours.
The origins of opal
According to the Roman writer Pliny, opal was created from the splendour of various gemstones: “the soft fire of the ruby, the rich purple of the amethyst and the sea-green of the emerald”.
Poetry aside, opal takes about 60 million years to form. All the more reason why it’s so precious!
The opal in Brazil
Brazilian opal was discovered in 1930 in Pedro II, a municipality in Piauí, known as the Land of Opal.
The region, colonised by the Portuguese, has several waterfalls and rich handicrafts.
The city is home to the only national reserve of precious opal, the second largest in the world. Since 1958, the stone has been exported and has become known and appreciated all over the world, especially the coloured ones.
The town is also a good example of commercial relations. The stone market is structured around associations linked to the extraction and cutting of the stone, ensuring organised extraction to preserve the region and fair working conditions.
Stone characteristics
Opal is a stone with an unmistakable lustre and its most common colours are white and green. However, it can also be found in many other shades such as grey, orange, red, yellow, green, magenta, blue, pink, brown, olive and black.
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