Gemstones beginning with O

Click the gemstone name or picture to visit our online store

• This index includes a wide variety of information about all of the gemstones from which our wholesale beads are made, including some that are not currently stocked but might be reordered in the future.
• Stones are listed in alphabetical order, grouped by family; for instance, Botswana Agate is listed under Agate, and Red Snowflake Obsidian under Obsidian.
• The "also known as" (aka) listings are often misnomers; we're just letting you know of other names we've seen (right or wrong!).
• To the best of our knowledge, all of our gemstones are natural and untreated, unless otherwise noted.
• We use the term "dyed" to describe stones to which color has been added through some process or another. The stone coloring process does not necessarily involve a colorant like those used for cloth.

	Obsidian Obsidian (ub-SIH-dee-in) is a natural glass that forms from volcanic activity. The gemstone is made of the same minerals as granite, but cools so quickly when exposed to air that the minerals do not have time to crystallize. Some inclusions can be bubbles or crystals, creating a random pattern such as snowflake. Obsidian is extremely rich in silica (about 35-80%) and is low in water. It may first have been discovered in Ethiopia by a man named Obsius, from whom its name is derived. Obsidian is fairly fragile, being only slightly harder than window glass. It scratches very easily and sharp blows are likely to crack it. Obsidian has been used for tool making since at least 21,000 B.C. and used in jewelry for many centuries. American Indians used it for arrowheads, and the Aztecs used a great deal of obsidian for items such as sacrificial knives and mirrors. Today, obsidian is used for dating; the stone weathers slowly at a uniform rate, and the thickness of the weathered layer is measured microscopically and gauged against known standards to give a date in years. Major sources include Iceland, Italy, the U.S.A. (especially Wyoming and Hawaii), Japan and Java.
		Obsidian (-120) aka Glass Agate, Iceland Agate, Nevada Black Diamond, Rhyolite Glass The standard obsidian form, this dark stone is said to aid the stomach and intestines and help improve overall vision. Obsidian is often used for gaining clear insight into problems.
		Brown Snowflake Obsidian This variety of obsidian has radiating patches of gray on a background of deep chocolate brown.
		Golden Obsidian A variety of obsidian with layers of golden brown, white and gray, which combine to form a deep olive-green to chocolate-brown appearance.
		Mahogany Obsidian (-044) This deep red-brown gemstone with black speckles is said to put those who wear it more at ease with their sensuality.
		Rainbow Obsidian (-129) With its iridescent multicolored bands, this gemstone is said to balance and stabilize energy. Some specimens of rainbow obsidian are being sold as "peacock obsidian," but the two are entirely different stones; true peacock obsidian is better known as "velvet peacock obsidian."
		Red Rainbow Obsidian This dark, almost black obsidian has iridescent bands and swirls of red and reddish brown. Other colors are sometimes evident, depending on the angle and light in which the bead is viewed.
		Red Snowflake Obsidian (-067) This gemstone has the same radiating patches as snowflake obsidian, but the base color is deep brownish-red and the patches are pink, tan and/or white.
		Snowflake Obsidian (-032) aka Flowering Obsidian Usually black or dark gray with light gray radiating patches, this gemstone is believed to assist with clarity and logic.
	Onyx Onyx is a striped, semiprecious variety of agate, with white, black, brown or red alternating bands. It is different from regular agate only in that the bands of which it is composed are parallel and regular. The name onyx originates from the Greek word onyx for fingernail or hoof, probably because of its weak transparency or possibly its color. Onyx may chip or scratch rather easily, so store it carefully. Onyx is one of the 12 stones mentioned in the Bible as adorning the breastplate of the high priests, and is also mentioned in Genesis 2:11,12: "…the gold of that land is good; there is bdellium and the onyx stone." The ancient Greeks and Romans used onyx for cameos and intaglios, and in India, onyx was worn for protecting against the evil eye and also for cooling ardor (it was believed that onyx provoked discord and separated lovers). In the Middle East, onyx was used as a worry stone because people believed the gemstone absorbed negative energy — a belief that may have been produced by the Chinese miners who feared it and pulled the material out of the mine to immediately sell outside the country. Onyx is purported to help eliminate apathy, stress and neurological disorders, eliminate negative thinking, and sharpen the wits of the wearer. It is used to change habits, in addition to helping concentration levels and aiding absentmindedness. Some think it makes the wearer more eloquent, and thus it is worn for public speaking. The main sources of onyx are India and South America, but it is also found in China, Madagascar, Mexico and the U.S.A.
		Black Onyx (-004) Like nearly all black onyx on the market, ours has been rendered a uniform, permanent black color with a treatment by sugar and acid (and/or heat). This process has been used on the gemstone for thousands of years and is water safe. Black onyx is found worldwide but most commonly is from Brazil, India and Madagascar.
		Blue Onyx (-012) This gemstone, like most on the market, gets its bright, cheery color from a heating process. The color is water safe.
		Green Onyx (-111) Through heat treatment, this onyx has been colored a bright green and closely resembles the color of chrysoprase or jadeite jade. Green onyx is most likely water safe, but will probably fade over time. Most, if not all, green onyx on the market is enhanced to achieve its color.
		White Onyx (-075) White onyx occurs naturally, and unlike some bleached versions on the market, our current stock is unenhanced. However, this might vary depending on the raw material available.
	Opal "Nature's fireworks," the opal is a gemstone of hydrated silica. It is considered a mineraloid, rather than a full mineral, because its structure is not truly crystalline. This stone has the same chemical composition as quartz, but contains up to 13% water. It probably derives its name from the Sanskrit word for precious stone: upala. Most opal is more than 60 million years old and generally dates back to the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It's also the birthstone for October. The most striking quality of the precious opal is its rich play of color; it diffracts light at various wavelengths, creating multiple colors. The common opal, on the other hand, has a lesser play of colors. Opal should be protected from heat and strong light, which can dry it out, causing cracks. In addition to cracking, loss of water causes loss of iridescence, therefore it might need to be oiled regularly to keep the water inside. Opal also must be protected from detergents that dry the gem. And remember, opal can be fairly brittle because it contains water. Ultrasonic cleaners, metal polish, acids and strong solvents should be avoided. Precious opal has been considered a gemstone since Roman times, in which is was second only to the emerald in value. The Romans considered the gemstone to be one of good fortune, revering it as a powerful aid to prophecy. The Russians, on other hand, viewed opal as nothing but bad luck. In the Middle Ages, treasured opal was called ophthalmios (eye stone) due to a widespread belief that it helped eyesight. Blond women wore opal necklaces to protect their hair from losing its color, and some thought the gemstone's effect on sight could render the wearer invisible. Shakespeare treated the opal as a symbol of shifting inconstancy, likening play of color to play of mind in one of "the most apt uses of gemstone symbolism in literature," according to the International Colored Gemstone Association. In "Twelfth Night," he writes: "Now the melancholy God protect thee, and the tailor make thy garments of changeable taffeta, for thy mind is opal." Continuing its reference in literature, in the 19th century Sir Walter Scott gave the gemstone an unlucky reputation in his popular novel Anne of Geierstein. In it, the heroine has her life force caught in the beautiful opal she wears in her hair, and she dies when the fire in the opal is extinguished. Queen Victoria loved opals and often gave them as wedding presents. She and her daughters created a fashion trend for opal jewelry. Today, the gemstone is believed to aid in the healing of eye diseases, and if a person is ill, it is believed to lose all color to the wearer. It is also said to soothe the eyes and the nerves, and might enhance creativity. Although most opal comes from Australia, Mexico and the U.S.A. also produce this gemstone. Also see amber stone.
		Opal (-057) These beads are common opal, generally white to off-white with moderate play of colors.
	more examples	Peruvian Blue Opal (-180) aka Andean Opal, Blue Peruvian Opal, Gem Silica, Jelly Opal The Incas reportedly cherished this relatively rare stone from the Andes Mountains in Peru. It frequently contains black dendrites (fernlike inclusions). This opal likely gets its sea-blue color from a copper mineral. Only some of the beads on each natural/unenhanced strand we carry will be this shade of blue; other beads will be pale blue-grays and earth-tone colors (ivory, beige and brown), making a lovely shore-and-sea palette. However, recently (2008) heat-treated Peruvian blue opal has become available. It is more vibrantly blue and has less color variation than the unenhanced stone. Beware of false stones on the market being sold as Peruvian blue opal; they usually are dyed agate. You also might come across a washed-out whitish opal from Peruvian mines with a hint of blue-green color, which has been dyed brighter in India or China.
	Opalite This is a fancy manmade glass from China. Through a little research, we found that many of the new stones circulating are actually glass masquerading as natural stones. They are distinguishable from the natural stones by occasional, accidental bubble inclusions and a lower resistance to scratches and breakage. However, manmade opalite is cut, faceted and polished just like any other gemstone.
		Opalite (-167) aka Moonstone Quartz, Opalized Quartz, Sea Opal   These shimmery, ghostly beads project a blue sheen when worn against most colors, but take on a yellowish tinge when placed next to white. The manmade gemstone has a cloudy center and few visible inclusions.
		Pink Opalite (-172) This manmade stone has a cloudy pink color with shimmering qualities.
Why can't I click on some stone names? Some stones are not currently part of our regular stock, meaning we don't sell them in our wholesale catalog or online. However, these may still be available on our traveling Bead Show tour, which stops at more than 50 U.S. cities each year.

Online Store Main    |    Rings & Things Home Page    |    Site Search