Opal gemstone is composed of water and silicon dioxide.The amount of water varies and determines the fragility of the individual stones. This gemstone is formed when silicon dioxide gets wet and turns into gel. This gel substance then works its way into the open space between the rock and the cave. An opal ring is formed as soon as it is set. When the water dries up for a long time and the amount of water is 5-10 percent, it turns into opal gemstone. However, when the amount of water decreases, the brittleness of opal increases.

1. Fire Opal a Cool Stone
Opal gemstone is composed of water and silicon dioxide.The amount of water varies and
determines the fragility of the individual stones. This gemstone is formed when silicon
dioxide gets wet and turns into gel. This gel substance then works its way into the open
space between the rock and the cave. An opal ring is formed as soon as it is set. When the
water dries up for a long time and the amount of water is 5-10 percent, it turns into opal
gemstone. However, when the amount of water decreases, the brittleness of opal increases.
Gemstones hold about 10% water content which makes it quite soft and delicate. They come
in different colors of blue, green, pink, black, white, red, yellow and orange. This stone is
tempting to play with its colors which show the brightness of the color when light bounces
from the silica sphere.Fire opal is a gemstone that is less desirable for its color play because
it is for its original color. As the name implies, this stone is burning with red, yellow and
orange. Finding a fire opal pendant with warm shades as well as color play offers the best of
both worlds.This fire stone usually comes from Mexico. In fact, it is the official gem of the
country. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs used fire opal rings to create their mosaics and
for special occasions. Although most of the gemstones on the market probably came from
Mexico, there are other mines in the United States, South America, and Australia. Recently,
significant deposits have been found in Brazil and the stones were of considerable size.
Opal is the birthstone of October. This is a great time to surprise a birthday girl with a bold
hot shade of fire opal bracelet instead of the more commonly known pastel iridescent
gemstone. Just looking at it will arouse his spirits and encourage him. Another special day
reserved for this stone is the 14th wedding anniversary. Even after so many years, that love
is still burning. What better way to show it than with a smoky hot fire opal.Due to the water
content, this stone is extremely fine and has a Mohs scale of hardness ranking between 5.5
and 6.5. For this reason, protect the pieces from scratches and chips. Store in a soft jewelry
bag away from other hard pieces of jewelry.Fire opal and other varieties should be protected
from sudden and extreme temperature changes as well as dry conditions that can dry out
the stone. To clean these, use a very soft cloth and mild soap with mild water to remove any
residue. Because this gem is not durable enough for everyday wear, saving it for special
occasions also means less cleaning. The polished look may eventually wear out and may
need to be re-polished.This hot gemstone looks spectacular on a cabochon or a face cut, but
it should be in a setting that protects the stone as much as possible. This is especially
important for pieces like a fire opal bracelet that often fall out. Whether it is set in silver or
gold, this stone burns with lava flows of red, orange and yellow.