Why Opals Are ‘Bad Luck’ and Other Gemstone Legends

Associate Editor Lenore Fedow delves into the ancient beliefs and superstitions surrounding six popular gemstones.

Lenore Fedow lenore.fedow@nationaljeweler.com

This one-of-a-kind “Ellie” ring by Pamela Froman features a blue-green Lightning Ridge black opal set in 18-karat white gold and framed by a double halo of diamond pavé ($15,400). A series of unfortunate events has given opal the reputation of being a bad-luck gemstone.

I’m holding onto the hope that magic is real—not like the magic of a spring day or a child’s laughter, but nature-defying, otherworldly magic.

As a child, I watched movies about witches and read stories about wizards, wondering what it would be like to wield all that power.

As an adult attending AGS Conclave in Seattle this April, I noticed a session on the schedule called “The Lore and Legends Behind Favorite Gemstones,” led by Isabelle Corvin, staff gemologist at Panowicz Jewelers in Washington state.

Of course, I was front and center, pen and paper in hand like the nerd that I am, ready to learn about the magical powers it is believed gemstones hold.

Join me for a history lesson, with a little bit of magic sprinkled on top.

Sapphire

Blue sapphires, the color of the sky, have long been associated with heaven, divinity and power, explained Corvin.

They hold special meaning in Christianity. Sapphire rings were given to priests back in the day because they were thought to promote chastity and honesty.

The original Ten Commandments were said to be inscribed on sapphire slabs, a substance so hard to break that it was thought only divine intervention could inscribe it.

In Sri Lanka, which was known as Ceylon when it was a British colony, it was considered the best protection against the evil eye.

Star sapphires, meanwhile, were thought to contain a guiding star and ensure safe travel.

Corvin also noted that the sapphire was said to be a remedy for eye troubles, though she wondered if its smooth, cool surface was perhaps the “ancient equivalent of frozen peas.”

Hindu legend identified sapphires by their bittersweet taste. The stronger the taste when licked, the higher the quality. (Let us know in the comments if you try that one out.)

Buddha Mama 20-karat white and navy enamel round Mandala earrings set with diamond Mandala and blue sapphire center ($26,450)

Diana Vincent Jewelry Designs round natural Ceylon blue sapphire set in platinum with diamonds ($29,000)

Arik Kastan’s 14-karat rose gold “Grand Navette” ring with sapphires ($1,840)

Norman Silverman Diamonds pendant featuring 29.72 total carats of pear-shaped sapphires with pave diamond accents suspended on a handmade diamond chain ($101,250)

Ruby and Garnet

Ancient lore doesn’t always specify between ruby and garnet, explained Corvin, referring to them only as “red stones,” so it can be hard to tell which tale applies to which gemstone.

One of the first mentions of rubies dates back thousands of years to Sanskrit texts, when they were called “Ratnanayaka” and known as “the King of Gems.”

In India, rubies feature in many stories and were thought to be a gift from the gods and, therefore, one of the most powerful offerings to them.

A ruby grading system was created, dividing them into four castes, according to GIA. A true “Oriental” ruby was known as a Brahmin, the highest class level, and possessing one ensured the owner’s safety.

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Rubies also were thought to bring good fortune, wellness and happiness.

The bright, red glow of a garnet, meanwhile, was attributed to an inner fire. Ancient tales describe garnets lighting up entire rooms and being hot enough to boil water.

Garnets were said to bring physical and emotional strength to the wearer.

Jacquie Aiche four garnet triangle necklace set in 14-karat rose gold ($1,220)

Syna’s 18-karat yellow gold Kamala earrings set with rubies and diamonds ($6,600)

Vivaan garnet earrings with white brilliant-cut diamonds set in 18-karat gold with black rhodium ($7,040)

Emerald

The bright-green color of an emerald has long been associated with spring, said Corvin.

Emeralds are mentioned in texts dating back to the 2nd century B.C. in India. Ancient texts detail emeralds being sold in Babylonian markets as far back as 4000 B.C.

Over the years, emeralds have been called by many names, but the oldest name is thought to be the Latin “Smaragus.”

Emeralds are featured in the Hindu legend of Vala, a demon-god and tyrannical ruler who was killed by demi-gods.

His body parts were said to be scattered all over and each part turned into a different precious gemstone. His blood became rubies and his teeth became pearls. Emeralds …. well, they came from Vala’s bile.

That’s pretty gross, but take a look through the slideshow below and tell me you don’t want to wear some dragon bile.

Muzo Atocha earrings comprised of 15.62 carats of Muzo emerald and 0.86 carats of diamonds in 18-karat white gold ($8,000)

Muzo Royal Orb earrings feature 67.25 carats of Muzo emerald, 1.08 carats of diamonds and 18-karat white gold ($41,600)

Picchiotti platinum earrings with cushion-cut Colombian emeralds accented with marquise, baguette and round diamonds ($207,500)

Omi Privé platinum and 18-karat yellow gold ring featuring a 4.58-carat sugarloaf emerald accented with rose-cut diamonds and round diamonds ($39,000)

Opal

Opals have a long, complicated history, so let’s start at the beginning.

Arab tradition says that opals were created by a lightning strike and the flashes of color within are trapped lightning.

Opal tales can be traced back as far as Ancient Greece, first recorded in Plato’s “Republic” as an invisibility stone. Although opal the gemstone was not mentioned by name in the earliest version of the story, each re-telling claims that the stone was opal, said Corvin.

In the Middle Ages, opal was known as the “magician’s stone;” because the stone displayed a variety of colors, it was believed to hold the powers of every gemstone.

However, this thought-to-be magical stone later came to be known as bad luck and a symbol of ill omens, noted Corvin.

A misunderstanding of Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 novel “Anne of Geierstein, or the Maiden of the Mist” may be partially to blame.

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In the story, a character named Lady Hermione wears an opal clasp in her hair that is said to change color based on her moods.

When the opal—which is a soft, easily-damaged stone—is touched by holy water, it loses its luster and Hermione falls to the ground. She is brought to her chambers and, soon after, turns to ash.

If you finish the novel, you learn that Hermione’s death was caused by poison and not the opal but the novel was published in parts, as was common at the time, and it seems not everyone read the next chapter.

Back in the day, a lot of novels were published week to week in newspapers or magazines, and people would wait for the next part, just like we wait for new episodes or season of shows to come out on Netflix, etc. today.

A bit later, Queen Victoria, a known fan of opals and a style icon of her time, attempted to bring the gemstone back into fashion.

At her coronation, she wore an opal brooch to close her dress, but when her dress came undone in the middle of the ceremony, opals fell from grace yet again.

In the late 19th century, King Alfonzo XII of Spain fell in love with an aristocrat, Comtesse de Castiglione (the Countess of Castiglione), but married another woman, Princess Mercedes, according to The Court Jeweller, a blog about royal jewelry written by historian Lauren Kiehna.

The countess, allegedly looking to show there were no hard feelings, sent the happy couple a wedding present—a gorgeous opal ring set in gold for Princess Mercedes. The princess died mysteriously two months later.

The king gave the ring to his grandmother, Queen Christina, who died soon after as well.

Apparently not someone who easily learns a lesson, the king tried again, giving the ring to his sister, Infanta Maria del Pilar, who died shortly after too, and then to his sister-in-law, who—guess what?—also passed away.

Surrounded by death and despair, the king decided to wear the ring on his own finger and died less than a month later.

Was it the cursed opal that killed the king’s entire family? No, the cause of death was more likely to be the cholera epidemic that was sweeping through Spain at the time, said Corvin.

Beladora opal earrings in 14-karat yellow gold ($1,450)

Arman Sarkisyan 22-karat gold and silver Ethiopian opal Art Deco-style earrings with diamonds ($18,820)

Larisa Laivins Australian opal ring with turquoise set in 18-karat gold ($3,890)

Le Vian Couture 18-karat rose gold necklace with a 9.85-carat opal and 15.51 carats of brown and white diamonds ($51,997)

Zircon

Zircon, also known as the mimic stone, comes in a range of colors, making it easy to misidentify it, explained Corvin.

The oldest zircon crystal ever found was in Australia, dated at 4.4. billion years old. (Just to put that in perspective, Earth itself is thought to be around 4.5 billion years old.)

Historical texts mentioning zircon can be traced back to ancient times in Persia, Greece and Rome. It’s been known by a variety of names, including Jargoon, Zargun, Zarkun, Hyacinth and Jacinth.

Zircon was believed by many to be a protective stone, guarding the wearer against phantoms, spirits, dark magic and disease.

In the Middle Ages, it was thought to shield the wearer from lightning strikes, directing bolts away from the wearer to another target. (Don’t try this at home.)

Zircon was also considered a healing stone by some, with each color curing a different ailment.

Paolo Costalgi 21.35-carat cushion-shaped zircon with 0.82 carats of yellow diamonds and 18-karat yellow gold ($19,000)

The “Blockette” zircon and diamond ring in 18-karat gold from Jennifer Dawes Design ($1,950)

Corvin’s session on gemstone lore was my favorite at Conclave, hands down, but how much many of the legends do I believe?

Well, as the daughter of an Italian mother, I’m prone to some superstitions. I won’t put new shoes on the table or a hat on the bed, and I’d never open an umbrella indoors.

But I probably won’t be donning zircon to ward off lightning strikes or tossing a garnet into a pot of water to make it boil faster.

However, when you’re holding a gemstone in your hand, tilting it back and forth and watching the way it shines when it catches the light just right, know that you are holding onto something special, maybe even magical.