Opal Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ethiopian Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century French Retro Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1940s Unknown Retro Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s English Victorian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Black Opal, Sapphire, Opal, Multi-gemstone, Emeral...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Contemporary Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
2010s Italian Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
1960s American Victorian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Amazonite, Opal, Tanzanite, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Rose Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Onyx, Opal
Mid-20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Moonstone, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s British Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tanzanite, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Tsavorite, Platinum
2010s Swiss Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, White Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Rhodolite, Apatite, Tanzanite, Peridot, Opal, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Opal Jewelry
Pearl, Opal, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
1960s English Modernist Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Chrysoberyl, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal
2010s Artist Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal
20th Century Unknown Modernist Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Fire Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Unknown Retro Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Rose Gold, 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).