Opal Jewelry
1890s Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Other, Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Fire Opal, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s North American Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Enamel
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
20th Century Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 22k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Late 20th Century Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tanzanite, Tsavorite, White Gold
2010s American Modern Opal Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Fire Opal, Sapphire, Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Yell...
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Fire Opal, Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, Yell...
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Australian Retro Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Belgian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, Garnet, Emerald, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Ros...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
1970s Modern Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century North American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1960s French Retro Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
1950s Unknown Victorian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, White Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, South Sea Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Australian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal
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).