The Mystery Of Opal - S.Taylor Jewellery Appraisal & Consultation
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The Mystery Of Opal

04 Oct The Mystery Of Opal

Posted at 18:27h in Jewellery by
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The Mystery of Opal

Opal is the traditional birthstone for the month of October. In previous times opals were thought to be bad luck and due to this poor reputation weren’t terribly popular. Lack of desirability drove prices down. Good news! Opal jewellery is on the rise the last couple of years and prices and values are beginning to reflect what a beautiful natural creation opal is. Many would be surprised to learn that opal isn’t actually considered a mineral. It is an amorphous type of silica that can contain up to 20% water. The make-up of the silica spheres and water are what diffract the light and cause the fascinating patterns and colours.

The internal structure of opal makes this gemstone more delicate. If you own opal jewellery or wish to own opal jewellery here is what you should know.

Opals are soft

Ranking a 5.5 to 6.5 on the hardness scale this gemstone is not advised for every day wear. Opals can crack, chip or break with even moderate force.

Opals are temperature sensitive

Avoid extreme temperature changes when wearing your opal jewellery. Example if you are heading outdoors in -20 weather or  going from an air conditioned environment outdoors to 30 degree temperatures you may wish to avoid wearing your opal. The sudden change in temperature can cause the opal to crack or craze. Naturally you would also want to avoid any hot or cold water.

Take special care when cleaning

Room temperature water is suitable or a polishing cloth. It is not advised to use any chemicals or cleaning products on your opal jewellery. Avoid using a brush that would potentially scratch the surface of the gem.

 

Opals should be stored properly

The best place to keep an opal is in a breathable pouch. Avoid storing in a box where it could potentially dry out and craze.

Opals are not bad luck

It is still thought to be unlucky for a person to wear opal if it isn’t their birthstone. This myth originated from a novel written back in 1829 and so it’s safe to say that in 2018 we can move on from this superstition.

I have a personal love for opal and I enjoy photographing it. The images in this post were all taken in my appraisal lab. For more information on opal you may visit https://www.gia.edu/opal-description for more blog posts please visit http://34.69.59.42/~adrianli/stjewelleryappraisal.com

Have a brilliant day!

Sincerely,

The Blonde Gemologist

 

 

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Sherrie Taylor
sherrie@stjewelleryappraisal.com

Collecting jewellery since I was three years old. I am a Graduate Gemologist Appraiser, & Registered Master Valuer who teaches gem curious jewellery owners about their personal jewellery collection through the process of valuation and appraisal. This blog is a place for jewellery lovers who are curious about gemstones, minerals, luxury fine jewellery, history, buying tips and gemological tools. Thank you for following along! "The Blonde Gemologist"