Opal Jewelry
1970s French Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, Moonstone, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Black Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Agate, Amber, Diamond, Garnet, Opal, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Druzy, 14k Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century English Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Zircon, Black Opal, Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
20th Century Japanese Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Fire Opal...
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, Tourmaline, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier American Modern Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Ruby, Opal, Malachite, Hematite, Diamond, Agate, Sterling Si...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Turquoise, Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s Italian Gothic Revival Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Rhodolite, Apatite, Tanzanite, Peridot, Opal, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst,...
21st Century and Contemporary German Aesthetic Movement Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Late Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, White Diamond, Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1980s Unknown Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Silver
Antique and Vintage Opal Jewelry
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).