Opals and Opal Jewelry
Opal History
Opal has a long history; some opals are almost 60 million years old
and have been around since the dinosaurs. The beauties of opal jewelry
have been recognized by many cultures, the Greeks and Romans believed
that opals represented hope, innocence and purity. Presently, opals
can be mined in Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Mexico, Nevada
and Idaho.
Opal jewelry comes in many colors from black with blue, gray,
or black body colors, white with white or light body colors, boulder
opals have color with rocks, and fire opals are transparent with
red, orange or yellow.
On the Mohs scale of hardness, opal ranks a 5.5 to a 6.5 which
makes it rather soft and prone to scratches. All opals should be
set in protective settings to prevent physical harm.
Opal is the birthstone for October and are recommended for the
14th, 18th and 34th wedding anniversaries.
How to Buy an Opal
When looking for an opal ring, note that there are a few different
color types. The most popular and expensive opal is black opal,
found only in Australia. The black opal has flashes of different
colors. There is also white opal that has pastel flashes. Crystal
opals are somewhat transparent and have colorless backgrounds with
flashes of color. Fire opals are also transparent, but with background
colors of red, orange or yellow. Fire opals with red body color
are called cherry opals. A colorless, transparent or semi-transparent
opal with little body color is called a jelly or water opal. Boulder
opals are opals with an ironstone rock inclusion. They are mixtures
of rock and mineral. Prase opals are of a green translucent color
that looks similar to jade. There are also blue-green opals that
do not have flashes of other colors. The quality of opal
rings are based on the colors and the evenness of tone.
Opal is usually cut in dome shape and since it is somewhat fragile,
it is not recommended for rings in a pear or marquise shape. It
is recommended to have an opal
ring in a protected setting.
Synthetic opal is a very good imitation and only a trained gemologist
can tell the difference.
Some questions to ask when purchasing an opal are:
- Has the opal been treated?
- Is the opal natural or synthetic?
- Are there any noticeable scratches, chips or inclusions?
- Is the color even throughout the opal?
- How good is the color?
As with all purchases, comparison-shop and see how much different
retailers are selling the same item. Research information on an opal
to make sure you get the best value for your purchase.
Opal Care
Opals, both black and white, must always be protected from the sun
and heat. The stone can be made up to 30% water and if dehydrated
will lose its beautiful iridescence and could cause cracks.
Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, polishes or any harsh materials
to clean opals. Keep opal
jewelry in a cool, dark place.
Always store your opals in a fabric-lined box to keep it safe
from being scratched by other pieces. Never wear them when doing
rough work or working with harsh chemicals.
With these tips, your beautiful opals should last you for many
years.
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