Opal Jewelry
2010s French Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
2010s African Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1970s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Modern Opal Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Tanzanite, Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold
2010s Australian Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Opal, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, 10k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Indian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Topaz, Gold, 22k Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s American Belle Époque Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century North American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s British Retro Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White 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).