Unique 1960s Australian Mintabie Black Opal Natural Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Miami Beach, FL
This large brooch features floral hand carved Mintabie black opal plaques, cognac diamonds, and baroque freshwater pearls set in a handmade 18k mounting. It measures approximately 4...
Diamond, Opal, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
25.64CTW Au Opal & Rose Cut Diamond Earrings, Impressive Play of Colors
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Please check out the HD video! These are Australian doublet Opals. Extremely difficult to find a matching pair of this quality! When it comes to opals, one of the most important char...
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$862Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.32 in L 0.71 in
Cute Handcarved Mexican Fire Opal Octopus Pendant Necklace in 18K Yellow Gold
Located in Suwanee, GA
Cute Handcarved Mexican Fire Opal Octopus Pendant Necklace in 18K Yellow Gold. Free Domestic USPS First Class Shipping! Free Gift Bag or Box with every order! Opal—the queen of gem...
Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Halo Diamond Australian Boulder Opal Stud Earrings 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Suwanee, GA
Halo Diamond Australian Boulder Opal Stud Earrings 14k Yellow Gold. Free Domestic USPS First Class Shipping! Free Gift Bag or Box with every order! Opal—the queen of gemstones, is ...
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
2.14ct Glowing Fire Opal with Diamond Ring in Solid 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Suwanee, GA
Glowing Fire Opal with Diamond Ring in Solid 14K Yellow Gold. Free Domestic USPS First Class Shipping! Free Gift Bag or Box with every order! Opal—the queen of gemstones, is one of...
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$470 / item
W 0.28 in L 2.49 in
German Kabirski Calypso 18K Gold Plated Silver Earrings with Opal & Sapphire
By German Kabirski
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Metal: 925 Silver, Nickel-Free, Hypoallergenic, Safe for Sensitive Skin Gemstones: Opal, Rough Pink Sapphire Plating: 18K Gold Width 7 mm Length 63 mm Weight 7.85 g
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Si...
26.43 CTW Au Opal, Tourmaline & Diamond Earrings, Impressive Play of Colors
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Please check out the HD video! These are Australian doublet Opals. Extremely difficult to find a matching pair! When it comes to opals, one of the most important character people loo...
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1ct Boulder Opal Ring w Diamond Accents in 14K Gold Fancy Shape 9x7mm
Located in Columbus, OH
This ring is a breathtaking masterpiece that showcases the mesmerizing beauty of a 1.08ct Boulder Opal. Set in stunning 14K white gold, the 9x7mm fancy-shaped opal features a dazzlin...
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
8.26 CTW Au Opal, Rose Cut Diamond Earrings, Impressive Play of Colors
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Please check out the HD video! These are Australian doublet Opals! When it comes to opals, one of the most important character people look for is the play of color. The Australian op...
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
3.01 Cts Au Opal, Pink Sapphire & Diamond Pendant, Impressive Play of Colors
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Please check out the HD video! This is an Australian doublet Opal! When it comes to opals, one of the most important character people look for is the play of color. The Australian op...
Pink Sapphire, Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Rhodium, White Gold, 18k Go...
7.84 Cts Au Opal, Pink Sapphire & Diamond Ring Pendant, Superb Play of Colors
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Please check out the HD video! This is an Australian doublet Opal! When it comes to opals, one of the most important character people look for is the play of color. The Australian op...
Pink Sapphire, Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Rhodium, White Gold, 18k Go...
Blue Green Boulder Opal, Aquamarine and Diamond Necklace in 18k White Gold
Located in Honolulu, HI
This unique piece of jewelry is one-of-a-kind. At its center is a stunning blue green opal, resembling the Northern lights of Alaska, a truly rare phenomenon, this opal is much the s...
Diamond, Aquamarine, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Alex Jona Fire Opal 18 Karat Rose Gold Necklace
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat rose gold chain necklace, alternating 5 rough fire opals weighing 18 carats in total. Alex Jona jewels stand out, not on...
Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
$3,791
W 1.15 in D 0.15 in L 0.76 in
Natural 13.54 Ct carved Boulder Opal butterfly wings mined by Sue Cooper
Located in BELCONNEN, ACT
Sue processed the rough boulder opal herself and handed on to expert carver to transform into an extraordinary butterfly.
Opal
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
W 1.19 in D 0.15 in L 0.91 in
Natural 20.08 Ct Carved Boulder Opal Butterfly Wings mined by Sue Cooper
Located in BELCONNEN, ACT
Sue processed the rough boulder opal herself and handed on to expert carver to transform into an extraordinary butterfly.
Opal
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Victorian Yellow Gold Round Opal w/ 0.20ctw Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
Condition: Antique, Victorian. Polished. Nice opal. Diamonds rough rose cut. Original finish & patina preserved.
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Remarkable Emerald Sapphire Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Ring For Her
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Discover the allure of the Remarkable Emerald Sapphire Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Ring, meticulously crafted from 18K yellow gold and adorned with dazzling diamonds (0.67 ct), radiant e...
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Raw Colombian Emerald Wave Band 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Suwanee, GA
Raw Colombian Emerald Wave Band 14K Yellow Gold. Free Domestic USPS First Class Shipping! Free Gift Bag or Box with every order! Opal—the queen of gemstones, is one of the most bea...
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,762
H 5.91 in W 6.89 in D 0.99 in
Early 20th Century Travelling Jewellers Precious Stone Samples, T.G.Woods
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A glazed sample case of precious stones, the collection of 12 gilt tins house a range of uncut stone samples all with their original hand penned labels. Among them is a rough diamond...
Tin
Dalben Stone Shape Boulder Opal Yellow Gold Ring
By Laura Dalben
Located in Como, IT
Dalben design One of a kind 18 kt yellow gold ring with a 6,8 carats bezel-set blue stone shape Australian Boulder Opal . Ring size 6 - EU 52 re-sizable . Bezel setting dimensi...
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,655Sale Price|20% Off
Tanzanite & Multicolor Opal Knuckle Ring With Pave Diamonds In 18k Gold & Silver
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
Rough cut tanzanite oval opal pave diamond knuckle ring, this is a collector's piece.
Tanzanite, Opal, Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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).