Upratna · Venus
Opal: who should wear it and how
Opal is not one of the nine navratna stones. It is an upratna (substitute) of Venus, commonly worn in place of diamond. This page explains what opal is, which lagnas the Venus stones are traditionally considered for, how opal is commonly worn, how to spot doublets and lab-made opal, and how to look after it.
Opal at a glance
| Hindi name | ओपल |
|---|---|
| Planet (graha) | Venus |
| Upratna of | Diamond or White Sapphire |
| Number (Mulank) | 6 |
| Colour | White or dark body with flashes of rainbow colours (play of colour); fire opal is orange |
| What it is | Hydrated silica (silicon dioxide with water), without a crystal structure |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 5 to 6.5 |
| Upratna (substitutes) | White Zircon |
| Crystals | Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz, Opal |
Check your Kundli first
Wear a gemstone only after Namieta has checked your Kundli. A ratna strengthens its planet, and a planet that is weak or troublesome in your chart can make a stone unsuitable even when it matches your Mulank. Crystals are a gentler choice to keep at home or work.
What opal is
Opal is silica that holds a little water inside it. Precious opal shows flashes of colour that change as the stone moves, called play of colour. It is much softer than diamond or sapphire and needs gentle care.
What opal is traditionally linked with
Traditionally linked with love, comfort, beauty and harmony at home.
- love, marriage and partnership
- comfort, beauty and a pleasant home
- the arts, music and design
- a softer way of supporting Venus than diamond
These are traditional associations, not promises. A stone is not medicine or financial advice, and no result is guaranteed.
Who opal is traditionally suggested for
Opal follows Venus. It is most often considered when Venus is the lagna lord (Vrishabha or Tula lagna) or rules a trine, especially when a diamond is not suitable.
In Jyotish a ratna is chosen from the Kundli, not from the sun sign or Moon sign alone. The usual starting point is the lagna (ascendant): the stone of the lagna lord is commonly the first one considered, then the stones of the planets that rule the 5th and 9th houses (the trines). Planets that rule only the 6th, 8th or 12th house are usually not strengthened. The table applies that rule to Venus for each of the 12 lagnas. It is a starting point only: Venus’s sign, house, strength and the running dasha are read before a stone is suggested.
| Your lagna | Venus rules | Traditional reading |
|---|---|---|
| Mesha (Aries) | 2nd, 7th | Depends on the chart |
| Vrishabha (Taurus) | 1st, 6th | Commonly considered |
| Mithuna (Gemini) | 5th, 12th | Commonly considered |
| Karka (Cancer) | 4th, 11th | Depends on the chart |
| Simha (Leo) | 3rd, 10th | Depends on the chart |
| Kanya (Virgo) | 2nd, 9th | Commonly considered |
| Tula (Libra) | 1st, 8th | Commonly considered |
| Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 7th, 12th | Usually avoided |
| Dhanu (Sagittarius) | 6th, 11th | Usually avoided |
| Makara (Capricorn) | 5th, 10th | Commonly considered |
| Kumbha (Aquarius) | 4th, 9th | Commonly considered |
| Meena (Pisces) | 3rd, 8th | Usually avoided |
Find your lagna with the lagna calculator
Who should be careful
As with diamond, opal is usually avoided when Venus rules only the 6th, 8th or 12th house for your lagna. Being an upratna makes it gentler, not suitable for everyone.
Stones commonly not worn with opal: ruby (Manik), pearl (Moti) and yellow sapphire (Pukhraj). Their planets are treated as unfriendly in the planet friendship table used on this site.
How opal is commonly worn
| Metal | silver, white gold or platinum |
|---|---|
| Finger | ring finger or middle finger (some traditions use the index finger) |
| Day | Friday |
| Time | in the morning, in the bright half of the month (shukla paksha) |
| Weight | 3 to 7 carats |
These are commonly suggested practices, and they differ between traditions and astrologers. Follow the advice given with your chart. The gem trade’s ratti (pakki ratti) is about 0.91 carat; the older goldsmith’s ratti is smaller, about 0.61 carat, so ask which one is meant.
Substitutes and crystals
The main ratna of Venus is Diamond or White Sapphire. The upratna listed for Venus on this site are White Zircon, and the crystals often chosen are Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz and Opal.
Rose quartz is often placed in the bedroom or the South-West of the home for harmony in relationships.
Natural, treated or imitation?
- Doublets and triplets are thin slices of opal glued onto a backing, sometimes with a clear cap. Look at the side for straight glue lines.
- Lab-made opal often shows a very regular pattern, like snakeskin or columns.
- Plastic and glass imitations are lighter or show bubbles. Some opals are darkened by smoke or sugar treatment.
Home tests (water, flame, scratching, rubbing) are unreliable and some damage the stone. Buy with a report from an independent gem testing laboratory that names the stone, says whether it is natural or laboratory-grown, and lists any treatment. Keep the report with the stone.
Caring for opal
- Keep opal away from heat, very dry places and sudden changes of temperature, which can make it crack.
- Wipe it with a soft, damp cloth. Never soak a doublet or triplet, and never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
- Store it on its own in a soft pouch, as it scratches easily.
- Take the ring off for heavy work, gardening, cleaning with chemicals and swimming.
Find out more
- Gemstone calculator: the stones of your Mulank and Bhagyank
- Janam Kundli calculator: your lagna and planets
- Which gemstone should I wear? The two ways explained
- Mulank 6: meaning and traits
- Lal Kitab remedies for Venus
- Crystal guide: pyrite, amethyst, rose quartz and more
- Crystals and gemstones with Namieta
- All navratna stones
Other navratna stones
- Manik (ruby)
- Moti (pearl)
- Moonga (red coral)
- Panna (emerald)
- Pukhraj (yellow sapphire)
- Heera (diamond)
- Neelam (blue sapphire)
- Gomed (hessonite)
- Lehsunia (cat’s eye)
Questions about opal
Who should wear Opal?
Opal is the ratna of Venus. By the usual lagna rule it is commonly considered for Vrishabha, Mithuna, Kanya, Tula, Makara and Kumbha, where Venus rules the 1st, 5th or 9th house, and usually avoided for Vrishchika, Dhanu and Meena, where it rules only the 6th, 8th or 12th. The final choice depends on Venus’s strength and placement in your Kundli.
Which finger and metal are used for opal?
Opal is commonly set in silver, white gold or platinum and worn on the ring finger or middle finger (some traditions use the index finger), on a Friday, in the morning, in the bright half of the month (shukla paksha). These are commonly suggested practices and differ between traditions; follow the advice given with your chart.
What can I wear instead of opal?
The main ratna of Venus is Diamond or White Sapphire. The upratna listed for Venus on this site are Opal and White Zircon, and the crystals often chosen are Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz and Opal.
How can I tell if opal is natural?
Only a gem testing laboratory can say for certain. Buy opal with a report from an independent laboratory that names the stone, says whether it is natural or laboratory-grown, and lists any treatment. Home tests are unreliable and some can damage the stone.
Is opal a navratna?
No. The nine navratna stones are ruby, pearl, red coral, emerald, yellow sapphire, diamond, blue sapphire, hessonite and cat’s eye. Opal is an upratna of Venus, used in place of diamond.