Sunan – Ethiopian Opals and CZ

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a lab-created material made of zirconium dioxide, not carbon, and is widely used as an affordable diamond look-alike. It is man-made and can be produced in almost any colour.

Hardness

8–9 (Mohs), usually given as about 8.5

Everyday wear

Cubic zirconia is softer than diamond, so with daily wear it can gradually pick up scratches and lose some sparkle; it may need re-polishing or replacing over time.

Care

Soak briefly in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap, brush gently with a soft brush, rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Store it apart from other jewellery and avoid harsh chemicals, toothpaste and chlorinated water.

Opal forms from silica left behind in rock by evaporating water. Precious opal shows flashes of rainbow colour ('play-of-colour') because it is made of tiny stacked spheres that split light into spectral colours.

Birthstone

October

Hardness

5–6.5 (Mohs)

Everyday wear

Opal is soft with very poor to fair toughness, so it scratches easily and is best in earrings and pendants, or in rings with a protective setting and occasional wear.

Care

Warm, soapy water is the only safe way to clean opal. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, high heat, sudden temperature changes and strong light.

Meaning and tradition

The Romans saw opal as a symbol of love and hope, and in European tradition it stood for hope, purity and truth; because it shows every colour, it was long regarded as the luckiest gem. The idea that opal is unlucky comes from a 19th-century novel, not ancient belief, and opal is the gem for 14th wedding anniversaries.