Opal Amazzonite 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Opal carved lotus flower and amazzonite faced drops, 18 kt gold gr. 4,80 earrings.
2010s Italian Artisan Dangle Earrings
Amazonite, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold
Opal Amazzonite 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Opal carved lotus flower and amazzonite faced drops, 18 kt gold gr. 4,80 earrings.
Amazonite, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold
$852Sale Price|20% Off
Opal Stud Earrings in 14k White Gold
Located in Bloomington, MN
Opal Stud Earrings in 14k White Gold These stud earrings are crafted in 14k white gold and feature oval cabochon opals held in classic four-prong settings.
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
$1,275 / item
14k Gold Oval Opal & Diamond Earrings
Located in Great neck, NY
14K GOLD OVAL OPAL & DIAMOND EARRINGS - Diamond Weight: 0.10 ct. - Diamond Count: 36 - Opal Weight: 0.60 ct. - Gold Weight: 1.94 grams (approx.)
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
Vintage Opal Stud Earrings 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Montgomery, AL
We are loving these sweet earrings! Earring Details Material: 14K Yellow Gold Back Type: Friction Backs, Posts Earring Length: 10.7mm Earring Width: 8.7mm Weight: 1.9 Grams Accente...
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
14K Yellow Gold Opal Dangle Earrings 2.6g
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Ladies' opal dangle earrings in 14k yellow gold settings.
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 13k Yellow Gold Opal & Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
These vintage 13k yellow gold earrings feature oval opal cabochons framed in smooth, rounded gold settings.
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
$13,500 / item
Opal Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Handcrafted from 18-karat gold, these beautiful drop earrings are set with 8.98 carats Opal doublets and .96 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
10K Yellow Gold Opal Stud Earrings #24449
Located in Washington Depot, CT
10K Yellow Gold Opal Stud Earrings- These elegant stud earrings each feature one pearl shaped opal set in classic 10K yellow gold.
Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
11.76 carat Ethiopian Opal Fire Opal Diamond 14 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast in 14 karat gold. These stud earrings are hand set in 11.76 carats Ethiopian opal, 1.1 carats fire opal and .89 carats of sparkling diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
$14,200 / item
Opal Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Handcrafted from 18-karat gold, these exquisite drop earrings are set with 8.65 carats Opal and 2.785 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
$1,956Sale Price / item|44% Off
Art Nouveau Opal Drop Earrings 14k gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Vintage Inspired Opal Dangle Earrings with colorless topazes. Art Nouveau Style Opal Drop Earrings 14k gold.
Opal, Topaz, 14k Gold
Large Black Australian Opal 18K Yellow Gold Stud Earrings Natural Opal gift
Located in Berlin, DE
Large bright Australian Black Opal stud earrings in 18K yellow gold gemstone origin - Australia gem size is 8 x 11 mm stone weight - 4.66 ct earrings weight - 3.22 grams
Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$9,500 / item
Opal Diamond 14 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Handcrafted from 14-karat gold, these exquisite drop earrings are set with 7.38 carats Opal doublets and .90 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Opal, Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
$528Sale Price / item|44% Off
Art Nouveau Opal Drop Earrings silver, gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Vintage Inspired Opal Dangle Earrings with colorless topazs. Art Nouveau Style Opal Drop Earrings Silver, gold.
Opal, Topaz, Gold Plate, Silver
14K Yellow Gold Round Opal Stud Earrings
Located in Stuart, FL
14k yellow gold round opal stud earrings. These earrings have a diameter of 6 mm, and have a total weight of 1.3 grams.
Opal, 14k Gold
Art Noveau Opal Earrings 18k Yellow Gold
Located in Bernardsville, NJ
Material: 18k Yellow Gold Gemstone: Opal 7.1 mm x 5.2 mm Weight: 11.9 grams Dimensions: 49 mm x 21.5 mm x 12 mm Time period of origin: Art Noveau Unique Art Noveau earrings datin...
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14K Yellow Gold Oval Opal Stud Earrings
Located in Stuart, FL
14k yellow gold oval opal stud earrings. These earrings have a measurement of 10 x 8 mm, and they have a total weight of 2.06 grams.
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Labradorite Opal Jasper 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Cabochon Labradorite and opal with drop of Picasso jasper 18k gold gr 12,10 earrings.
Labradorite, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Dalben Australian Boulder Opal Rose Gold Earrings
By Laura Dalben
Located in Como, IT
Dalben design One of a kind 18k rose gold matte finishing dangle earrings with 8 light blue bezel set Australian Boulder Opals weighing 12 carats.
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Ethiopian Opal Earring Pave Diamond 14k Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
Ethiopian Opal Earring Pave Diamond Jewelry 14k Gold Diamond Opal Jewelry Gift Light weight can be worn everyday Additional information: Condition: New without tags: A brand-new, un...
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Contemporary 14K Yellow Gold Oval Black Opal Stud Earrings
Located in Towson, MD
These oval black opal stud earrings are set in 14 karat yellow gold with a simple four prong setting that puts the opal's play of color front and center.
Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,404Sale Price|20% Off
French Hook Opal Earrings in 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Bloomington, MN
French Hook Opal Earrings in 14k Yellow Gold These earrings are crafted in 14k yellow gold and feature elongated bezel-set white opals in a graceful drop design.
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Oval Opal Earrings Solid 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Honolulu, HI
Earrings Specifications: Metal: 14K Yellow Gold Total Weight: 1.1 Grams Gemstone: Opal Opal Measurements: 8.3 mm x 6.7 mm x 2.4 mm Earring Diameter: 10.5 mm x 7.5 mm Conditi...
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18kt Gold Amazonite and Opal Drop Earrings
By Angelina Fine Jewelry
Located in Amsterdam, NH
An eye-catching pair of 18k gold earrings with amazonite drops dangling from a paisley motif set with opal doublets.
Amazonite, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Opal Drop Earrings
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderful pair of opal drop earrings. Each identical vintage piece has been crafted from a warm 18ct yellow gold with a four-clawed setting playing host to a single ov...
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Gold Snake Earring Opal White Diamond Serpent Earring J Dauphin
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Snake Earring Gold Opal White Diamond Serpent Single Earring Solid Gold Fish Hook Statement Designer: J DAUPHIN Gold snake earring in solid 14k gold by J Dauphin, a single sculptur...
White Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
$739Sale Price / item|40% Off
Opal, Crescent Moon Stud Earrings in 14k gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Opal, Crescent Moon Stud Earrings in 14k gold. Opal moon earrings.
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
18k Gold Opal and Peridot Drop Earrings
By Angelina Fine Jewelry
Located in Amsterdam, NH
A lovely handmade and one-of-a-kind pair of asymmetrical 18k gold earrings with boulder opals and lush green peridots suspended from 18k gold flowers.
Opal, Peridot, 18k Gold
Precious White Opal & Boulder Opal "Heartbreak" Earrings in 18K Gold w Diamonds
By Eytan Brandes
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Weights & Measurements: Total length: 45mm Width (top discs): 11mm Thickness of bezels: approx. 3mm Opal weight: 4 carats Diamond weight: approx. 0.05 carats Total earr...
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Syna Yellow Gold Peridot and Opal Earrings
By Syna Jewels
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Created in 18 karat yellow gold Peridot 3 carats approx. Opal 8 carats approx. 18kyg Butterfly backs Limited Edition About the Designers Drawing inspiration from little things, Dh...
Opal, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Marquise Opal Cluster Earrings 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Sugar Land, TX
♥ Product Summary ♥ Main Stone: Australian Opal Metal: 14k Yellow Gold Stone Cut: Marquise Dimensions: 16mm x 11mm Closure: Butterfly **Due to the uniqueness of the opal stone, the...
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$4,750 / item
Opal Diamond 14 Karat Gold Stud Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast from 14-karat gold, these beautiful stud earrings are hand set with 3.86 carats Opal and .35 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
Mismatched Opal Moon Face Stud Earrings, silver, gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mismatched Celestial Moon and Star Opal Earrings. Vintage/Old Style opal earrings. Ethiopian opal earrings.
Diamond, Opal, Gold Plate, Silver
$8,500 / item
14 Karat Gold Opal Diamond Drop Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
These beautiful drop earrings are handcrafted in 14K gold. It is hand set in 7.9 carats opals & .76 carats diamonds.
Opal, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
$6,500 / item
Fire Opal 14 Karat Gold Diamond Stud Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast in 14 karat gold. These stunning stud earrings are hand set in 4.25 carats fire opal, .47 carats sapphire and .38 carats of sparkling diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
$695 / item
Opal Diamond Earrings in 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Honolulu, HI
Earrings Specifications: Metal: 14k Yellow Gold Earring Length: 16.5 mm Total Weight: 4.3 Grams Opal: 2 Opal Total Carat Weight: 1.64 carats Diamonds: 12 Diamond Color: I Di...
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Syna Yellow Gold Opal Earrings with Diamonds
By Syna Jewels
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Created in 18 karat yellow gold Opal 3 carats approx. Diamonds 0.25 carat approx. 18 karat yellow gold butterfly backs Limited edition Adorn yourself in the beauty of these exquisit...
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Opal Emerald Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Handcrafted from 18-karat gold, these exquisite drop earrings are set with 3.41 carats Opal, .68 carats emerald and 1.78 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Enamel Opal Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
These earrings feature a unique hand painted miniature art set in 18K gold.
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel
Opal Emerald Diamond 14 Karat Gold Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Handcrafted from 14-karat gold, these drop earrings are set with 7.33 carats Opal doublets, .80 carats emerald and .62 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,950 / item
Opal Diamond 14 Karat Gold Stud Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast from 14-karat gold, these beautiful stud earrings are hand set with 3.54 carats Opal. .36 carats Sapphire and .24 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
Silvia Furmanovich 18k Gold Fire Opal Diamond Wood Earrings
By Silvia Furmanovich
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Silvia Furmanovich hoop style earrings in 18 karat yellow gold set with beautiful inlay wood marquetry and Mexican fire opals.
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Opal Drop Earrings
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderful pair of opal drop earrings. Each identical vintage piece has been crafted from 18ct yellow gold with a four-clawed setting playing host to a single oval shap...
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sapphire Opal Coral 18 Karat Gold Earring
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Green sapphire African opal fossil coral drop 18kt gold gr. 7,40. Total length 6cm. All Giulia Colussi jewelry is new and has never been previously owned or worn. Each item will arri...
Coral, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
White Gold Opal Dangle Earrings - 14k Doublet Pierced
Located in Greensboro, NC
Metal Content: 14k White Gold Stone Information Natural Opals Cut: Doublet Style: Dangle Fastening Type: Butterfly Closures Measurements Tall: 1 5/32" (28.6mm) Top Width: 5/32" ...
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 14k Yellow Gold Openwork 1.20tcw Opal Dangle Earrings
Located in New York, NY
These vintage dangle earrings are crafted in 14k yellow gold and feature an openwork design set with opals totaling 1.20ctw.
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$6,850 / item
Fire opal 14 Karat Gold Diamond Stud Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast in 14 karat gold. These stunning stud earrings are hand set in 6.09 carats fire opal, .15 carats emerald and .23 carats diamonds.
Opal, Diamond, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
Opal & Sapphire Diamond Dangle Earrings 18K White Gold
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
These elegant dangle drop earrings blend vibrant opals, rich blue sapphires, and brilliant diamonds in 18KT white gold.
Sapphire, Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
Opal Tanzanite Gold Drop Pendant Hand Made Earrings
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Magnificent Earrings with opal cabochon and tanzanite briolè stone surround all the cabochon.
Opal, Tanzanite, Gold
$4,900 / item
18 Karat Gold Opal Diamond Stud Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast in 18 karat gold. These stud earrings are hand set in 4.41 carats opal, .41 carats emerald, sapphire and .25 carats of sparkling diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Emerald, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Fire Opal Tanzanite Diamond 14 Karat Gold Linear Earrings
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
These beautiful linear drop earring are handcrafted in 14-karat gold. It is set with 7.71 carats fire opal, 8.32 carats peridot, tanzanite and .24 carats of glimmering diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, Peridot, Tanzanite, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
Natural Opal, Emerald, & Diamond Earring in 14k Gold
Located in New York, NY
GEMSTONE DETAILS DIAMOND WEIGHT: 1.29 CTS OPAL WEIGHT: 15.08 CTS EMERALD WEIGHT: 6.32 CTS 14K GOLD GROSS WEIGHT: 19.890 GRAMS GOLD WEIGHT: 15.272 GRAMS CODE: SW FOLLOW Monalisa...
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold
Natural Emerald, Opal, & Diamond Earring in 14k Gold
Located in New York, NY
GEMSTONE DETAILS DIAMOND WEIGHT: 1.75 CTS EMERALD WEIGHT: 7.31 CTS OPAL WEIGHT: 5.90 CTS 14K GOLD GROSS WEIGHT: 12.87 GRAMS GOLD WEIGHT: 9.87 GRAMS CODE: SW FOLLOW Monalisa Jewe...
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold
Natural Opal, Emerald, & Diamond Earring in 14k Gold
Located in New York, NY
GEMSTONE DETAILS DIAMOND WEIGHT: 2.21 CTS EMERALD WEIGHT: 4.94 CTS OPAL WEIGHT: 13.52 CTS 14K GOLD GROSS WEIGHT: 25.45 GRAMS GOLD WEIGHT: 21.31 GRAMS CODE: SW FOLLOW Monalisa J...
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold
$4,928Sale Price|30% Off
Lauren Harper Aquamarine Opalized Petrified Wood Gold Earrings
By Lauren Harper
Located in Winnetka, IL
Set in Lauren Harper's signature 18kt matte Gold, these earrings are a perfect compliment to any outfit.
Aquamarine, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold
Baume Creation Fire Opal 18 Karat Yellow Gold Earrings
By Baume
Located in Poitiers, FR
Baume creation - Unique piece. For pierced ears. Earrings in 18 karat yellow gold. Delightful earrings pendant, they are formed of a gold pearl which supports in pampille a pear of f...
Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$829Sale Price / item|53% Off
Turtle earrings studs with opals in 14k gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Turtle earrings studs with opals in 14k gold. Opal gold earrings.
Sapphire, Opal, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Dangling Opal and Diamond Drop White Gold Earrings
Located in Miami Beach, FL
These 18k white gold earrings feature three graduating in size oval opals in each earring accented with round diamonds.
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Dalben Australian Boulder Opal Yellow Gold Dangle Earrings
By Oreste Dalben
Located in Como, IT
Dalben design One of a kind 18k yellow gold matte finishing dangle earrings with 2 bezel set Australian Boulder Opals weighing 23 carats.
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Dalben Australian Boulder Opal Rose Gold Dangle Earrings
By Laura Dalben
Located in Como, IT
Dalben design One of a kind 18k rose gold matte finishing dangle earrings with six violet - green bezel set Australian Boulder Opals weighing 17,6 carats.
Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.
Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)
Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!
There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.
So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.
There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.
Someone wanted to “modernize” the Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. masterworks, but Mahnaz Collection came to their rescue. Here, the dealer explains precisely why they’re such an extraordinary find.
From cameos to cigar bands, here are the looks on our radar this season.
The mismatched, multiple-earring look may have started with fashion jewelry, but A-list fans have taken it to the next level.
From buttons to chandeliers, here are the top styles to get or give in 2020.
Organic shapes, surprising textures, shimmering colors and inventive embellishments take the new generation of pearl jewelry from classic to cutting-edge.
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
The classic circle has appeared in countless variations over the centuries.