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Opal Care

Opals are delicate gemstones that require specialized care because they contain high amounts of water (often between 3% and 21% water weight). This unique composition makes them prone to cracking and scratching if mishandled.

Daily Wear & Protection

  • Mind the Hardness: Opals score a 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. They scratch easily against common dust and harder stones like diamonds or sapphires.
  • Last On, First Off: Always apply perfumes, hairsprays, cosmetics, and lotions before putting on opal jewelry. Chemicals can dull their brilliant play-of-color.
  • Avoid Hard Impacts: Remove opal rings or bracelets before gardening, exercising, washing dishes, or doing heavy housework.

Cleaning Safely

  • The Golden Rule: Use only warm water, a mild soap (like Dawn), and a very soft cloth or soft-bristle toothbrush.
  • Never Use Ultrasonic Cleaners: The intense vibrations can shatter an opal.
  • Avoid Chemical Cleaners: Steer clear of jewelry dips, bleach, ammonia, or abrasive baking soda pastes.
  • Know Your Opal Type:
    • Solid Opals can handle being submerged in warm water.
    • Opal Doublets or Triplets (layers glued together) should never be soaked. Water can dissolve the glue and cause the layers to separate, making the stone look cloudy. Clean them strictly with a damp cloth.

Environment & Storage

  • Avoid Extreme Heat: Sudden temperature shifts or dry heat (like leaving an opal ring on a sunny windowsill or near a heater) can cause the water inside to evaporate, resulting in permanent cracks called “crazing.”
  • Store Separately: Keep opal jewelry in its own soft pouch or cloth-lined box so harder jewelry pieces cannot scratch it.
  • The “Oil/Water Storage” Myth: Do not store your opals submerged in water or oil. While they need moisture from the air, soaking solid opals long-term or treating them with oil can alter their transparency and ruin their value. The best way to keep an opal hydrated is simply to wear it, as it will absorb natural moisture from the air and your skin.

We only use genuine Australian Opals.

Here are the differences between Australian and Ethiopian Opals:

The main difference between Australian and Ethiopian opals lies in how they respond to water, which comes down to their geological origin and internal structure. Australian opals are sedimentary, while Ethiopian opals are volcanic.

Water Absorption (Hydrophane vs. Non-Hydrophane)

  • Ethiopian Opals: Most are hydrophane opals. They act like a sponge and can absorb water. When soaked, they lose their color and turn completely clear. Their color returns slowly once they dry out completely.
  • Australian Opals: These are non-hydrophane. Their water content is locked inside their structure. They do not absorb water, and their color will not change if they get wet.

Durability and Stability

  • Australian Opals: They are highly stable and reliable. Because they formed over millions of years in dry desert basins, they rarely crack or craze from normal climate changes.
  • Ethiopian Opals: They are more sensitive to rapid humidity and temperature changes. If they dry out too quickly after absorbing water or get exposed to dry heat, they are much more prone to cracking (crazing) than Australian opals.

Appearance and Body Tone

  • Australian Opals: They are famous for dark, rich body tones. This region produces highly valuable Black Opals and Boulder Opals, which make the neon flashes of color pop intensely against a dark background.
  • Ethiopian Opals: They generally have a bright, translucent, white, or honey-colored body tone (called Welo Opals). They often look like glowing neon orbs and have a unique “3D” depth to their color patterns.

Rarity and Value

  • Australian Opals: They are much rarer and more expensive. Australia has been the global standard for opals for over a century, and high-grade black opals can command thousands of dollars per carat.
  • Ethiopian Opals: Discovered more recently (mostly in 2008), they are found in large quantities. They are much more affordable, making them a fantastic budget-friendly choice for larger, flashier jewelry designs.