Opal Jewelry
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century English Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Retro Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
1940s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
1930s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 22k Gold
2010s Indian Medieval Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Onyx, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artist Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Mixe...
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Palladium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1840s Austrian Antique Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold, Enamel
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Kyanite
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Opal Jewelry
Crystal, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold-filled, Sterling Silver
2010s German Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold-filled
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century European Opal Jewelry
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Retro Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Quartz, Aquamarine, Silver, Gold Plate, 1...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire,...
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Romantic Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold-filled
2010s Japanese Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Rose Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire,...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Brown Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Ruby, Opal, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose 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).