Australian Opal Rings

If you love looking at many colors, an Australian opal ring may interest you. There are six types of Australian opals. The most rare are the solid ones which colors vary from black, brown, blue, and grey- the black opals. Another type of Australian opal is the boulder opal, which come in smooth and uneven surfaces, just like a stone. Opals are also used in crowns because they are very radiant and vibrant in color.

Slices of Opal

Doublets are similar to the black and boulder opals, which are made up of thin slices of opal with a black background, or sometimes have glass backgrounds. If there are doublets, there are also triplets. As the name conveys, these opals come in threes. Some of them are also shaped like sandwiches, composed of a thin slice of opal, a darkened opal, and a dome of quartz crystal. Between a triplet and a doublet, the latter has more opal content: which only means that it has more value. Light opals, on the other hand, have a different range of colors, which are usually white or light blue.

Special Care Needed

The standard hardness for Australian opal rings are 5.5 to 6.5 in the Mohs scale, compared to the hardest gem, which rates at 10. Australian opal rings are very fashionable too, but just like any other piece of jewelry; they require proper care and cleaning. Bear in mind to stay away from harsh cleaning materials and use soft cloth instead. Soaking opals in water is not recommended for most opal jewelry. The ring shouldn’t be soaked in oil either, as this might affect its luster. Opals should also be stored in areas where there is no direct sunlight, as they may be prone to cracking and eventually become brittle, and lose luster. Try to avoid getting your opal jewelry wet. Usually we recommend opal earrings as they are easier to care of than rings.

Styles

Australian opal rings also vary in style. Some of them are enclosed in gold or silver bands, and since opals are unique, no two rings look exactly the same. Moreover, Australian opal rings have beautiful accents by mixing them with other jewelry pieces like diamonds to make them even more stunning. They make great gifts too, because they say that wearing opals are lucky for people born on the month of October, as well as people who wish to find true love. Opals also have great luminosity, which makes it sparkling, whether it is a ring, or a pendant. Opals also make good mood rings, because they change in color, and the colors can be attributed to the different moods of a person.

Opal Lore

A generic symbol for happiness, hope and truth, the opal can also be used to celebrate the 14th and the 18th years of marriage. Ideally, Australian opal rings can also be used as romantic wedding anniversary gifts. Some believe that opals are very lucky, as the wearer can be perceived as faithful and confident.

Technorati Tags: Australian opals, opal rings, opal jewelry