Opal Jewelry
1920s Australian Edwardian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, 15k Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Crystal, Opal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Opal, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Peridot, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Czech Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Ruby, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1960s American Victorian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Agate, Amazonite, Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Druzy, 14k Gold, 18k Gold,...
1910s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Baroque Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Yellow Gold
1930s Unknown Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1960s French Retro Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Vermeil
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Tourmaline, Tanzanite, Pearl, Opal, Bronze, Sterling Silver, Silver, Gol...
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Mixed Metal, Brass, Sterling Silver
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold
20th Century American Native American Opal Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian 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).