Opal Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
2010s German Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Modern Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier American Modern Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, White Gold
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold
1890s European Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Bronze
1960s American Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Peridot, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Danish Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s English Victorian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
1990s British Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Artist Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
2010s German Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s American Artist Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, Quartz, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s American Belle Époque Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Byzantine Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yel...
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Artist Opal Jewelry
Tsavorite, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s British Vintage Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Gold
20th Century American Native American Opal Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
20th Century Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Tourmaline, Sapphire, Opal, 22k Gold, Silver, Gold Plate
20th Century North American Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
1990s Swedish Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tsavorite, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Iolite, Opal, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Opal, 18k 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).