Just a Minute... Before You Buy that Opal

Precious opals are gemstones that display a rainbow of colors when we move them around to show them off from different angles. An opal can have a light or dark body color and it can be either translucent or transparent. It's the October birthstone, but opal is popular with people born all throughout the year. There are some important facts about opal to get acquainted with before you buy jewelry, because it's a gemstone that can be manipulated in ways that aren't always disclosed -- or desirable.

_{Photo of Opals by Ian Waldie/Getty Images}