All About Opal Jewelry (together with find out how to look after it)
Opal is a singular and engaging 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 positively 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 find out how to look after 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, abandoning a deposit of silica. As this course of repeats, layer upon layer of silica builds up, finally forming a stable mineral deposit that we all know as opal.
The method can take anyplace from 5 million to twenty million years, relying on the precise situations and components concerned. The result’s a singular and exquisite gemstone with a definite play of color, created by the best way mild refracts via the layers of silica.
Not all opals characteristic the iridescence and play of color seen significantly in Australian opals, however as a substitute have extra of a stable colouring which might be white, yellow, pink, orange, crimson and even black.
The Historical past of Opal Jewelry
Opals have been utilized in jewelry for 1000’s of years, with a number of the earliest examples courting again to historical Greece and Rome. Within the Center Ages, opals have been believed to have magical powers, and so they have been extremely prized by royalty and the rich.
By the nineteenth century, opal jewelry was turning into extra broadly obtainable, and it turned a well-liked alternative for engagement rings and different special day jewelry.
Within the twentieth century, opal jewelry turned much more well-liked and at this time it stays a well-liked alternative for jewelry lovers at this time. 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 number 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, nevertheless it 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 have been present in areas akin to Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge and Andamooka.
Opal mining in Australia remains to be largely a small-scale business, with most of the mines being family-run operations. Nevertheless, there are additionally bigger mining corporations that make use of lots of of individuals and produce important quantities of opal every year.
At the moment, Australian opals are extremely wanted by collectors, jewelry designers and jewelry lovers all over the world. With their distinctive and charming play of color, Australian opals proceed to be a highly regarded alternative for these on the lookout for a particular and exquisite gemstone.
How you can 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 on your opal jewelry:
- Opal is kind of a smooth gemstone, so retailer your opal jewelry individually from different jewelry to keep away from scratches and harm. Mushy fabric pouches or jewelry containers are perfect for storage of treasured jewelry.
- Clear your opal jewelry recurrently to take away dust 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.
- Keep away from getting your opal jewelry moist recurrently or for prolonged intervals, particularly if the opals are doublets or triplets which have synthetic backings. We suggest taking it off when showering or swimming. In case your opal jewelry will get moist, you need to dry it rapidly and completely to stop harm.
- For prime worth opal jewelry, we suggest having your items professionally inspected and cleaned periodically to make sure that it stays in high situation.
- Keep away from exposing opal jewelry to harsh chemical compounds, akin to bleach and cleansing brokers, as these can harm the gemstone. Take care if utilizing chemical cleaners on treasured steel which has opals set into it: clear across the stones as greatest you’ll be able to and be sure you rinse and dry completely while you’re accomplished.
- By no means expose opal jewelry to excessive temperature adjustments, as this will trigger the gemstone to crack or change into discoloured. Particularly do not use a steam cleaner on opals.
Add Some Lovely Opal Jewelry to your Assortment
Opal jewelry is an exquisite and distinctive alternative of gemstone for jewelry lovers. Whether or not you are on the lookout for an important day piece or simply an intriguing and subtly vibrant addition to your assortment, opals are a actually particular choice.
At Simone Walsh Jewelry we have now a number of inexpensive opal jewelry, together with some small and exquisite Australian opals, Mexican fireplace opals and stable color variants in pinks, yellows and whites.
Take a look at our opal jewelry vary, together with our full gemstone jewelry assortment. We’re positive you will discover one thing you’re keen on.