Mexican Fire Opal

Since the days of yore, man has reveled in harnessing the goodness of nature, enjoying its boundless gifts and working towards utilizing every resource in the best possible manner. The earth in its own way gave birth to style and fashion in the form of gems. Mined at great depths and formed over years, gemstones are used for not only adornment but also for therapeutic purposes. One such stone that has been used enthusiastically over the centuries is the Mexican Fire Opal.

The Fire Opal being synonymous with love and happiness was used extensively by the Aztecs and Mayans for rituals and religious ceremonies. It was referred to as “quetzalitzlipyollitli” meaning “Stone of the bird of paradise”. Owing to its religious, historical and economic importance, it is the national stone of Mexico.

The demand for Mexican Fire Opals has increased manifold over time. With its hot red, orange and yellow tones, the stones are excellent for small pieces of jewelry, where even a dash of color is enough to give a stunning look. The stone derives its name from the fact that it develops in volcanic flow of lava. The fiery color of the stone is due to the presence of iron oxide. Mined in the open-pit quarries of Queretaro, Julisio, Hidalgo and Michoacán (to name a few), the Mexican Fire Opal is famous for its immense varieties of hues and tints. As compared to other types of opals, the Fire Opal is brittle and difficult to handle by cutters and setters. The delicate stone can easily lose its tone and color if exposed to great heat or strong light as it may lose its moisture. Wearing the stone regularly is a good way of ensuring that the stone retains the required water content. Great care is taken while setting the exquisite stone, which is embedded essentially in stylized silver ornaments. “Cabochon” is the essential cut used for this romantic stone. It enhances its brilliant colors and minimizes any damage to the stone.

The value of a Fire Opal depends upon the whether it is faceted or cabochon cut, the color of the stone, the play of color (which would depend all the more on the cut of the stone) and transparency. Cut as a cabochon, the stone exhibits its colors in the best fashion, emitting its hues with such fervor that one feels it may just glow in the dark. The darker the color or rather the “fiery” the red, the more expensive would be the pricing of the Opal. Transparency is also indicative of the value of the stone. Higher the transparency, higher would be the quality of the Fire Opal.

Mexican Fire Opals are believed to give the wearer an essence of vigor, youth and vitality. They exude positive and healthy vibes, keeping the mind fresh and free from negative thoughts. Considering the zodiac, fire opals are associated with the sun signs of Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius and are used for pendants, rings, earrings, cufflinks, belt buckles as well as amulets.

Even if you’re not a believer in the therapeutic or religious significance of the Mexican Fire Opal, you would be floored by the charismatic play of fire visible in the burning stone. The reddish orange chalcedony will surely attract your attention and make you want to “burn” a hole in your pocket (all pun intended).