Opals... unlucky?

[Mascotte]

So, there's the superstition that opals are unlucky to wear unless you're born in October. I wasn't.

I know that this is ridiculous. But I'm still slightly reluctant to buy the beautiful opal ring I like.

Would you wear an opal or is it too "unlucky?"

I'm annoying myself as I'm normally a very rational person. Though I would cry if o broke a mirror 😂

My mum had a beautiful opal ring which she intended to leave to her first grandchild but it was stolen when we were burgled, so I suppose that was unlucky 🤷🏼‍♀️

I had to look this up. Opals have just had bad press...
people.howstuffworks.com/why-is-it-bad-luck-to-wear-opals-if-werent-born-in-october.htm

I'd totally wear it!

It’s a daft Victorian superstition. I love opals, not an October birthday and wear them often. My engagement ring was an opal, 37 years ago.

I was born in October and I love opals. In the back of my mind I recall my mum telling me it was bad luck to wear them as I was Catholic. Probably lost in translation somewhere I imagine.

I have heard they are bad luck for everyone, even for those born in October, even though it is an October (or Libran) birth stone. I used to be woo like in my younger days.

I’d heard the superstition was that it was unlucky to be given an opal, but not to buy one for yourself.

Opals have a high water content so they are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature or very dry conditions, and they are relatively soft compared to other gemstones so can scratch as well.

Is it a doublet, a triplet or a solid opal? Doublets and triplets don’t like being immersed in water as they are made up of layers and water can penetrate in between.

It's not an old superstition, it's a myth invented and circulated by the marketing department of de Beers.

They also invented the "tradition" that two months salary was the correct amount to spend on an engagement ring.

I think it’s more to do with it looking like the evil eye - the Tudor name for it was ophal.

I’m not superstitious at all.

I understand that opals are considered unlucky because they expand/contract with temperature more than most stones & as a result they may spread the prongs when warm (traditionally as you swept the hearth ) then fall out when they contract again.

I have a beautiful opal pendant

Oh, I like these theories of the made up bad luck! I think I can do it 😊

The Romans believed opals to be lucky - so be more Roman!

I always thought opals were unlucky because the mining of them is pretty dangerous.I've no idea where I got that from though.
Go for it -I would (but then I was born in October!)

I heard it was made up by diamond merchants to put people off buying them.

I'm sure I saw a programme on BBC four saying that it was a rumour/ marketing put about by diamond merchants, because opals threatened to become more popular than diamonds. All about the money.

I can understand why they are very beautiful. I'd certainly wear them.

I’m a jeweller and I LOVE opals!! I regularly wear them, just to make sure they’re not unlucky before I sell them you understand, and touchwood, they’ve always been fine. Although.... I did have the most magnificent opal that was stolen in a burglary and I do rather hope that particular opal was unlucky...

I read somewhere, years ago that they have a high water content (as a pp has already said). This results in the gem sometimes shrinking and falling out of it's setting.
My grandmother's engagement ring is five opals and still looks perfect. Must be over 70 years old!

My engagement ring is a fire opal. I love it and can't say I have noticed my luck being any worse for the last 4 years.

I have an emerald engagement ring and an opal eternity ring. I sort of want to say something rude about superstition, but I won’t. Instead I’ll say how beautiful my rings are.