Famous Figures and Their Beliefs About Opal

Famous Figures and Their Beliefs About Opal

The opal has fascinated not only everyday people but also queens, emperors, and storytellers throughout history. Its shifting colours and mystical aura made it a symbol of luck, beauty, and mystery in the eyes of some of the world’s most influential figures.

Roman Emperors – The Gem of All Virtues

In ancient Rome, opal was considered the most powerful of all gemstones because it contained the colours of every other jewel. Emperor Augustus is said to have prized opals as talismans of hope and fortune, gifting them to his closest allies. Owning an opal in Rome was a mark of status, protection, and good luck.

Queen Victoria – A Royal Advocate for Opal

In the 19th century, when opals had gained a reputation as “unlucky,” Queen Victoria helped restore their image. She adored opals and often wore them in her jewellery. Victoria even gave opal pieces as wedding gifts to her daughters and daughters-in-law, reinforcing the stone’s connection to love, fidelity, and good fortune.

Her devotion to opals shifted European trends and proved that the gemstone was far from unlucky.

Napoleon Bonaparte – The Fiery “Burning of Troy”

The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte famously gifted an opal known as the “Burning of Troy” to his beloved Joséphine. The gem was said to glow with fiery red flashes, symbolizing passion and vitality. To Napoleon, the opal represented love, luck, and the strength of their bond.

Writers and Poets – A Stone of Inspiration

• Shakespeare referred to opal as the “queen of stones” in Twelfth Night, praising its shifting beauty.

• Sir Walter Scott, though often blamed for sparking the “bad luck” superstition with his novel Anne of Geierstein, was also captivated by opal’s mystical reputation.

• Countless poets and artists through the ages have looked to opal as a stone of creativity and inspiration.

Eastern Traditions – Luck and Sacred Light

In parts of India, opal has long been considered a sacred gem, believed to embody the radiance of the goddess of the rainbow. For rulers and spiritual figures, opal was worn as a charm to bring luck, clarity, and divine favour.

Conclusion – A Stone of Fortune Across Time

From emperors and queens to poets and lovers, opal has left its mark on history as a gemstone of luck, devotion, and inspiration. Its rainbow-like light made it a jewel that transcended ordinary beauty — a talisman believed to hold both earthly and divine power.

Even today, the stories of these famous figures remind us that opal is not just a gemstone, but a living symbol of fortune and imagination.