Opal Jewelry
1880s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Taiwanese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Opal Jewelry
Spinel, Sapphire, Opal, Garnet, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Silver
1990s Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Emerald, Black Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Opal Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Opal Jewelry
Mandarin Garnet, Black Opal, Opal, Garnet, White Diamond, Diamond, Plati...
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Silver
2010s Dutch Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Artist Opal Jewelry
Opal, Silver
1990s English Modernist Opal Jewelry
Agate, Opal, Fire Agate, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Fire Opal
2010s Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Rhodium
1880s English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Emirian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s British Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Rhodium
2010s Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Contemporary Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Spinel, Rhodocrosite
2010s Ethiopian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Platinum
2010s Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
20th Century French Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Fire Opal, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
Early 20th Century French Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
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).