'O, be not rash! try no experiment! there is something mysterious about that opal talisman;’
~from Anne of Geierstein, or, The Maiden of the Mist, by Sir Walter Scott, 1829
If there was ever any question that humans are suggestible creatures, we need only to look at the time a fictional story inadvertently caused a significant drop in European opal sales. The superstition grew, we are told, because in the story an enchanted princess with an opal talisman fell ill and burned to ash once the stone was touched with holy water.
Add to that a chain of deaths and small misfortunes in the European aristocracy, with various opals allegedly at the heart of them, and it’s nearly understandable that a stone once considered lucky was now looked at askance.
This double snake two finger opal ring, handmade by Wexford Jewelers, definitely has some magic in it. Follow this link to find that magic!
While we’re pretty sure Scott didn’t intend to spread distrust in this majestic gemstone, there’s just something about opal that feels otherworldly enough to maybe believe they hold some sort of power. Opals are found on nearly every continent (although the bulk still are mined in Australia) and have had magical lore associated with them for at least a few thousand years. They’ve been called both cursed and blessed, seen as both a gift from the gods or a meting out of justice.
This ring wasn't cursed by any nineteenth century Spanish Queens, even if it looks a little bit vintage.
So we have to ask- Is wearing an opal unlucky? Or is it an oft-repeated superstition because people just love a good tragedy? Because we think anything full of that much flash and fire can’t be anything other than wonderful.
We want to hear your opal story in the comments!
This ring is now in a private collection, but you can view our current opal selection by clicking this link
~Sarah J Christenson, Oct 2025
