Opals were once thought to bring good fortune because they possessed the colors and powers of all the gemstones. The opals brilliancy varies and is determined by the temperature and moisture in the air which means they are very sensitive to the atmospheric conditions. Some say that an opal has a soul of its own and that it attunes its soul to that of the person who wears it. Due it is propensity for color change, the opal is said to indicate the fortune of the wearer, so bright colors indicate good fortune and success, while dull and lifeless colors warn of disappointment and failure.

Opals range in color from milky white to almost black with contrast flashes of green, orange, yellow, red, and blue.