Opals captivate us, mainly because of their unique optical characteristics. Opals often exhibit a spectrum of colors called “play-of-color,” which is observed in various kinds of lighting. The Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, referred to opal’s play-of-color in the 1st Century A.D., when he wrote: “For in them you shall see the living fire of ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light.”

Opal is a birthstone for the month of October. Every opal is unique in appearance, which makes them desirable for anyone who craves individual expression.

Opal Facts:

• Opals can have fiery play-of-color, but they can also be colorless, opaque, translucent or transparent.
• Opal has a hardness of 5.0-6.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Due to their relative softness, opals are rarely faceted.
• Ninety-five percent of the world’s precious opal comes from Australia, where it is the national stone. Other sources include Brazil, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mexico and Peru.
• Opals are mainly cut as cabochons or fashioned as beads.

Opal Treatment:

• Some opals may be treated to enhance their color or appearance. Information about any stone known to be treated should be disclosed to the consumer

Synthetic Opal:

• The discovery of the ordered spherical structure of precious opal led to its synthesis in 1974. Information about any stone known to be synthetic – made in a lab rather than mined – should be disclosed to the buyer.

Opal Care and Cleaning:

• To minimize scratching and wear, store each piece of fine jewelry separately in a soft cloth or padded container.
• Opals are somewhat delicate, and should not be subjected to heat, temperature and air pressure changes, because they contain varying degrees of water.
• The best way to clean opal jewelry is with warm, sudsy water and a tightly woven microfiber or other soft cloth. Always avoid ultrasonic machines and steam-cleaning.
• Take all your fine jewelry to a professional jeweler at least twice a year for a thorough cleaning and inspection.