"For in them you shall see the living fire of ruby, the glorious purpose of the amethyst, the sea green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light". - Pliny, 1st Century A.D.

To view a table scattered with the finest opals in an abrupt awakening to their almost mystical beauty. In contrast to a similar spread of rubies, diamonds or sapphires where the differences between individual stones come down to size and slight colour variations, every single opal is visibly unique and so irreplaceable. They possess a fascination in their lucid depths that is shared by no other commodity.

The word opal is from the Greek 'Opals' meaning "to see a change of colour". Two thousand years ago the Romans treasured opal as a stone of good fortune and used to carry it as a talisman. Shakespeare described the opal as the "Queen of Gems". A curious belief evolved in Poland, where in 1075 the brilliant stone was attributed with powers to make the wearer invisible. Opals were named "Thief Stones" as criminals could use the gem to commit their thieving deeds unseen. In stories from the 'Dreamtime', the aboriginals described how [God] 'took the colours down out of the rainbow and put them in a stone".

The first references to a romance with opals dates back to 250 B.C. It is probable that these stones came from mines in Hungary (now Eastern Slovakia) and Mt. Simonka where modern production ceased in 1932 when the mines could not longer compete with the supply and far superior quality of the Australian gems. While some minor mining operations are still underway in Mexico, 95% of the world's fine opal is now produced in Australia.