What I am about to say is something a gemstone jewelry maker probably should not admit to. My birthday is in October and as a kid I was disappointed that my birthstone was Opal. There I said it. But much has changed since then! Of course as a child you like shiny sparkly things. I was jealous of the bright colored gems of other birthstones like peridot or amethyst. At the time I was not looking closely at Opals.
Of course I now think quite differently. I just did not appreciate their beauty. Each Opal variety has rich and deep color variations in each stone. They mesmerize you with their unique colors that shine differently in specific light. And I also did not realize that this opal gemstone was quite valuable. The more colorful the stone the more expensive they get. I am still learning about this precious "semi-precious" gem. I have started creating delicate opal jewelry with Fire Opal which is in the lighter more creamy color family that has gorgeous blues and pinks glowing through them. The darker variety of Opal which is more blue or black with amazing colors are even more precious. How
could I have misunderstood this beauty?! 
Throughout most of history, opal has been regarded as the luckiest and most magical of all gems because it can show all colors. Once, it was thought to have the power to preserve the life and color of blond hair. Many cultures have credited opal with supernatural origins and powers. Arabic legends say it falls from the heavens in flashes of lightning. The ancient Greeks believed opals gave their owners the gift of prophecy and guarded them from disease. Europeans have long considered the gem a symbol of hope, purity, and truth. * (Taken from GIA - Opal History and Lore)
There is a reason the Opal has been called the "Queen of Gems". I am honored to be an October baby and more proud to call the Opal my birthstone.
Anette - RudyBlu Designer