Opals

[dmitchell15]

I found this opal ring and I'm thinking about buying it soon. I want to know, who likes them, do you have opal jewelry? Are they popular? Does anyone have any pictures? How do you take care of Opal? Also, I noticed many are lab created, how can I tell a good quality opal? Thanks in advance.

 

[tokyogirl]

Can you post the photo?

 

[dmitchell15]

If I buy it I will post pictures, but there is not an online store for it. It is 14k yellow gold and a very pretty opal. Truth be told, I found it at TJ Maxx. I have bought a lot of sterling silver from there, but never gemstones. I have not bought it because I saw it and it was beautiful, but I like to think over my purchases. Also, I like to shop around too.Does anyone else have another suggestion for other stores? THis opal has a lot of fire. THat is why I was wondering about lab created.

 

[bagsforme]

Its beautiful but very fragile. I had a ring and the opal cracked.

 

[dmitchell15]

^^ Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Were you able to get it repaired? I guess it is definitely not an "everyday" ring.

 

[Leelee]

I have a beautiful opal pendant and earrings, but I too have heard they are fragile and scratch easily so I hardly ever wear them.

I do think they are one of the prettiest stones, though.

 

[dolfynnchick]

I have a nice opal ring at home. Opals are one of my favorite gems. I'm also partial to Star Sapphires and Alexanderite.

Opals can be very fragile, almost as fragile as pearls, so you have to be careful not to bash them around too much. I don't think you can use regular jewelry cleaner on them either like you do with normal gemstones. They're a (mild!) soap and water sort of gem.

One thing most people look for in an opal is how much "fire" it has, that is, how much color and flair is in the stone. You'll also want to check the color of the stone. Most opals are white or just off white. There's also black opals, but those are rarer and a lot more expensive from what I understand.

Opals are very popular, partly because they are one of October's birthstones (the other is pink sapphire).

 

[Kitsunegrl]

Here is a pic of an opal I recently had reset. The opal is about 40 years old, so it has held up pretty well. My old setting was broken and it was definitely time for an upgrade!

The one thing about opals is you cannot use a commercial cleaner on them.
Just wipe them with a soft towel and you will be ok.

Definitely post pics if you get your opal!

 

[dmitchell15]

^^ Wow that ring is gorgeous! It is one the most beautiful stones I have seen in a long time. I love your setting too. The setting is absolutely lovely.

 

[LV Rawks]

I love Opals, but I am just too paranoid when wearing them. I did have and Opal ring several years ago, and it cracked...I am not at all hard on jewelry, but Opals are in part made up of water.

 

[smalls]

Kitsunegrl- your ring is gorgeous!

I think opals are very pretty and interesting. I did have a ring a while back where the opal had cracked. Now I am also kind of paranoid about their fragilness.

 

[simplysplendid]

www.opalsdownunder.com.au has a lot of information on opals.

 

[dmitchell15]

Once an opal is cracked can it be repaired?

 

[oranGetRee]

i love opals.
here's mine. it's small and dainty.
I know opals chip easily so I take care of mine. So far it looks very good. I don't think they can be repaired once cracked.
Pls post pics once you get yours!

 

[sputnik]

i have an opal ring that i got at h.stern. it's in a modern, brushed yellow gold setting, very simple, similar to pomellato rings except the stone is oval.
opals are more fragile than other stones but i wear mine often and the only wear i've noticed is the gold getting a bit scratched, especially the bottom of the band. i wouldn't wear it to the gym or anything but it's fine for normal everyday wear.
just make sure it's a good quality opal with lots of fire.