Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This guest contribution from Bayreuth explores the captivating world of opals, highlighting their cultural significance and dazzling variety, now on display at the Urwelt-Museum until August 31, 2017.
Guest contribution from Bayreuth
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Tears of the sky, eyes of the gods, talisman of thieves – in many human cultures, this gemstone is revered.
Its colorful fire fascinates people; when you turn the black opal, yellow, red, green, and blue colors flash inside. There are transparent red or water-blue Mexican opals, or “Kaschalong,” white milky opal, and many other color variations.
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Until August 31, 2017, the Urwelt-Museum in the pedestrian zone of Bayreuth is showcasing beautiful, precious gemstones, some from the private collection of Germany’s largest and oldest opal dealer.
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Gemstones that have never been seen in public before are being displayed. In many fascinating examples, visitors can see the development from rough raw stone to cut gemstone to finished jewelry piece.