Opal Jewelry
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Peridot, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Fire Opal, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire...
20th Century Japanese Modern Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Danish Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Quartz, Rock Crystal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Other, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, Si...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Moonstone, Opal, Sapphire, Rainbow Moonstone, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Opal, Silver, Go...
1970s Swiss Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s British Modern Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sterling Silver
2010s American Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Other, Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s British Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, 10k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s Belgian Artist Opal Jewelry
Chrysophrase, Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Paraiba, 18k Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Opal Jewelry
Fire Opal, Ruby, Opal, Silver, Gold Plate, 22k Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold
1910s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Citrine, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Opal Jewelry
Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Black Pearl, O...
Late 20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Rhodolite, Blue Topaz, Peridot, Citrine, Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, Sterling Silver
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal
Late 20th Century Unknown Opal Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Modern Opal Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Citrine, Opal, Agate, Chalcedony, Moonstone, Morganite, R...
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow 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).