All About Opal Jewelry (together with the right way to take care of it)

Opal is a novel and interesting gemstone that has been utilized in jewelry for millennia. With its distinctive play of colors and iridescence, opal jewelry is each stunning and crowd pleasing. Opals undoubtedly deserve a spot in your jewelry assortment, however what do you actually learn about them?

On this article, we’ll discover the historical past of opal jewelry, how opals are fashioned, and the right way to take care of opal jewelry to make sure that it stays trying stunning for years to come back.

Let’s get began …

How are Opals Shaped?

The method begins when silica-rich water seeps down into cracks and crevices within the Earth’s crust. Over time, the water evaporates, forsaking a deposit of silica. As this course of repeats, layer upon layer of silica builds up, ultimately forming a strong mineral deposit that we all know as opal.

The method can take anyplace from 5 million to twenty million years, relying on the particular situations and components concerned. The result’s a novel and delightful gemstone with a definite play of color, created by the best way gentle refracts via the layers of silica.

Not all opals characteristic the iridescence and play of color seen notably in Australian opals, however as an alternative have extra of a strong colouring which could be white, yellow, pink, orange, pink and even black.

The Historical past of Opal Jewelry

Opals have been utilized in jewelry for hundreds of years, with a few of the earliest examples relationship again to historical Greece and Rome. Within the Center Ages, opals had been believed to have magical powers, they usually had been extremely prized by royalty and the rich.

By the nineteenth century, opal jewelry was turning into extra broadly accessible, and it turned a well-liked alternative for engagement rings and different big day jewelry.

Within the twentieth century, opal jewelry turned much more standard and at the moment it stays a well-liked alternative for jewelry lovers at the moment. With its distinctive play of colors and iridescence, opal jewelry is a good way so as to add some color and persona to your jewelry assortment.

About Australian Opals

Australia is understood for producing a few of the finest opals in the world, with over 95% of the world’s provide of opals coming from the nation.

The primary opal was found in Australia within the 1840s, but it surely wasn’t till the late 1800s that opal mining started in earnest. The primary industrial opal mine opened in White Cliffs, New South Wales in 1890, and shortly after, different deposits had been present in areas equivalent to Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge and Andamooka.

Opal mining in Australia remains to be largely a small-scale business, with lots of the mines being family-run operations. Nevertheless, there are additionally bigger mining firms that make use of tons of of individuals and produce vital quantities of opal every year.

At this time, Australian opals are extremely wanted by collectors, jewelry designers and jewelry lovers all over the world. With their distinctive and fascinating play of color, Australian opals proceed to be a very talked-about alternative for these in search of a particular and delightful gemstone.

Methods to Look after Opal Jewelry

Opals are comparatively delicate and require a little bit of particular care to maintain them trying their greatest. Listed here are some suggestions for caring in your opal jewelry:

1. Opal is sort of a smooth gemstone, so retailer your opal jewelry individually from different jewelry to keep away from scratches and injury. Delicate material pouches or jewelry bins are perfect for storage of treasured jewelry.
2. Clear your opal jewelry repeatedly to take away filth and oil buildup. To scrub opal jewelry, merely wash it in heat soapy water, rinse and dry completely. Take a look at our complete jewelry cleansing information for extra suggestions.
3. Keep away from getting your opal jewelry moist repeatedly or for prolonged durations, particularly if the opals are doublets or triplets which have synthetic backings. We advocate taking it off when showering or swimming. In case your opal jewelry will get moist, you must dry it rapidly and completely to forestall injury.
4. For prime worth opal jewelry, we advocate having your items professionally inspected and cleaned periodically to make sure that it stays in prime situation.
5. Keep away from exposing opal jewelry to harsh chemical substances, equivalent to bleach and cleansing brokers, as these can injury the gemstone. Take care if utilizing chemical cleaners on treasured metallic which has opals set into it: clear across the stones as greatest you possibly can and make sure you rinse and dry completely whenever you’re executed.
6. By no means expose opal jewelry to excessive temperature adjustments, as this may trigger the gemstone to crack or grow to be discoloured. Particularly do not use a steam cleaner on opals.

Add Some Stunning Opal Jewelry to your Assortment

Opal jewelry is a phenomenal and distinctive alternative of gemstone for jewelry lovers. Whether or not you are in search of a special day piece or simply an intriguing and subtly vibrant addition to your assortment, opals are a actually particular possibility.

At Simone Walsh Jewelry we’ve a number of reasonably priced opal jewelry, together with some small and delightful Australian opals, Mexican fireplace opals and strong color variants in pinks, yellows and whites.

Take a look at our opal jewelry vary, together with our full gemstone jewelry assortment. We’re certain you may discover one thing you’re keen on.