It's a pleasure to wear unique, beautiful opal jewellery - especially opal rings. So how do you choose the perfect opal ring, and what considerations should you keep in mind?
Every opal is different. Unless sawn in half from the same stone, it is highly improbable to find two opals that look the same, with each stone having different characteristics and colour play.
Before purchasing a stunning opal ring, there are two key things you need to consider. First, the design of the ring. This can be defined by the way you expect to wear the ring (regularly or casually), and the circumstances in which you will be wearing it. Secondly, it is worth considering the type of opal.
Opal Ring Designs
Is the design of the ring material? Yes, as it is the design of the ring that will define how protected the opal stone is going to be when worn.
Claw Set
Claw set opal rings sit the stone high up above the band, allowing light to flow around the opal. This creates a sophisticated look, though it does mean that the stone is exposed. If worn in situations where the opal will not get caught on anything, this could be a suitable ring to wear every day. A claw set opal ring is ideal for:
- Birthstone rings worn on special occasions
- Cocktail rings for infrequent wear
Bezel Set
Bezel set opal rings offer the most reliable protection to the stone since metal wraps around the opal. It is the most suitable ring for daily wear if worn in situations where the opal may be knocked or bumped.
Opal Type
The next thing to reflect upon is the opal type. While this is a personal preference, it may have a bearing on price. Black Opals are generally the most costly but Boulder Opal and Doublets can be more affordable alternatives.
Black Opal Rings
Black Opals vary in colour from blue to fire red colours at the rarer end. Top-quality black opals make ideal stones for rings, as the play of colour can be seen from all around. Cabochon cut black opals help to display the range of colour. It is most common to see bright black opals set in gold, with semi-black opals primarily set in sterling silver.
Boulder Opal Rings
Boulder Opal is found in the remote outback areas of Queensland, Australia. Formed on natural ironstone backing, and mostly flat, it is rare to see cabochon cut Boulder Opal stones. This opal however is notable for bright colours and intense fire colours. In Queensland, there are two main opal mining fields that produce boulder opal with streaks of colour running through ironstone potch, known as Yowah Opal and Koroit Opal.
Crystal Opal Rings
Crystal opals are translucent and principally blue in colour, from pale blue to deep-sea blue, but can also be found in greens and sunset fire colours. Crystal opals are found over throughout Australian opal fields, though chiefly from the South Australian opal fields of Cooper Pedy.
Inlay Opal Rings
Inlay Opal Rings use slices of Crystal Opal, cut to suit the bezel shape of the ring. Because the base of the ring is black, the opal will show stronger colour when set and polished.
Triplet Opal Rings
Triplets are a thin slice of Opal with a man-made top and bottom added. This makes them an affordable way to own opals, such as in a triplet opal ring.
Doublet Opal Rings
Doublets are a slice of thin Opal set on a natural base, frequently ironstone from Queensland opal fields. Doublets are another way to own bright opal for a fraction of the cost of a solid opal ring, given they often show incredible Opal colours.
Non-Australian Opal Rings
You may see opal rings made with many other types of opal, including:
- Ethiopian Opal
- Mexican Opal
- Indonesian Opal
- Opalite
- Tiffany Opal
Here at Opalist, we only sell high quality natural Australian Opal, so you can be assured of quality.
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