These somewhat fragile but oh so beautiful opal rings for women are unique among gems. I took the rough material, cut and polished many opals. I can't count the number of opal stones I've set in jewelry. I love opals.

Opal advice. Here are the main things to think about when wearing and storing opal jewelry. First, opal is not as strong as some other stones, but it is certainly as durable as most emeralds you see. Opal is not as hard as emeralds, but most emeralds chip easily and can even be damaged by cleaning due to internal flaws! Opal is quite safe when properly cleaned and will not chip or break unless badly knocked. You have to be careful not to hit or bump the stone against hard objects. Then again, who wants to knock on some opal rock!

Opal is a "glass-like" material, very similar to glass with a few specific exceptions: The glassy structure explains opal's ability to chip or scratch. But even though opal is made of the same siliceous material as glass, it is slightly different, and it is this difference that makes this gemstone so amazing. Imagine taking a bunch of glass marbles and putting them in a cereal bowl. Fill the bowl with just enough water to cover the balls.

This is a simple visual example of how an opal is made inside a gemstone. Over time, the small beads (spheres) of silica join and layer together until a complete stone is formed. There is some water between the microscopic silica beads. Of course, the silica beads or spheres in the opal are much closer together than in the "beads in a bowl" example, and there is much less water. Opals can contain up to about 10% water.

The color and fire of the opal comes from groups of quartz balls. The size of the spheres alone determines what light is reflected back into the eye. Some groups are close enough to reflect red light, while others spaced slightly differently reflect blue or green light. The beads scatter light and reflect a certain color depending on the size of the silica beads and the spacing of the beads in the gem. That's where the color comes from.

Water in opal is stable, in stable opal! Some opals are so "flooded" during mining that the stone will crack after a few weeks in dry air! Gem quality opals do not do this. Opal selected for stone cutting has the water content contained in the stone and is proven to be stable and safe. Soaking the opal in water or oil is not necessary and comes from old legends.

General care. First, think of opal as glass, even if you think it's not glass, it's similar. Keeping this in mind will prevent damage. Cleaning is easy with a mild dishwashing detergent at room temperature. Use a very soft brush or your fingers to remove body oil and dirt from the jewelry. Rinse and dry. This is an excellent time to check and make sure the stone is securely and firmly seated in the setting. Click on the ring next to the ear to hear a slight "rattle" indicating a loose stone.

Heat and cold can damage the opal. In general, very sudden and extreme changes in temperature can damage the opal. It's like heating a stone quickly with a flame..zap, like most other stones it will break. Daily temperature changes will be safe. Be careful in extreme cases, such as going from a sauna to a frozen pond! Such a temperature change could damage the stone. Everyday wear is safe.

I wouldn't jump into a hot shower after coming in from the cold with opals on. Simply remove the ring and keep it out of the bath. This keeps the stone cleaner by avoiding the very difficult to clean "soap scum" and potentially dangerous sudden changes in heat.