Editing Opal (section)

== Historical superstitions ==
In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal.<ref name=Fernie>{{cite book | last = Fernie | first = William Thomas | title = Precious Stones for Curative Wear | year = 1907 | location = Bristol | publisher = John Wright & Co | pages = [https://archive.org/details/b24855893/page/248 248]–249 | url = https://archive.org/details/b24855893 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> It was also said to grant invisibility if wrapped in a fresh [[bay leaf]] and held in the hand.<ref name=Fernie /><ref>{{cite book|title=Wicca Candle Magick|first=Gerina|last=Dunwich |author-link=Gerina Dunwich |year=1996|pages=84–85}}</ref> As a result, the opal was seen as the patron gemstone for [[thieves]] during the [[medieval period]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Opal Symbolism and Legends |url=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/history-legend-opal-gems-yore/ |website=International Gem Society |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> Following the publication of Sir [[Walter Scott]]'s ''[[Anne of Geierstein]]'' in 1829, opal acquired a less auspicious reputation. In Scott's novel, the Baroness of Arnheim wears an opal [[amulet|talisman]] with supernatural powers. When a drop of [[holy water]] falls on the talisman, the opal turns into a colorless stone and the Baroness dies soon thereafter. Due to the popularity of Scott's novel, people began to associate opals with bad luck and death.<ref name=Fernie /> Within a year of the publishing of Scott's novel in April 1829, the sale of opals in Europe dropped by 50%, and remained low for the next 20 years or so.<ref>{{cite book|author-link=Allan W. Eckert|first=Allan W.|last=Eckert|chapter=A Chronological History and Mythology of Opals|title=The World of Opals|location=New York|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|date=1997|pages=53–118}}</ref>

Even as recently as the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that when a Russian saw an opal among other goods offered for sale, he or she should not buy anything more, as the opal was believed to embody the [[evil eye]].<ref name=Fernie />

Opal is considered the [[birthstone]] for people born in October.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Goldberg-Gist|first1=Arlene|title=What's that Stuff? Opal|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|date=2003|volume=81|issue=4|doi=10.1021/cen-v081n004.p058|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/8104sci3.html}}</ref>