Opal Jewelry
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold, Gold-filled, Silver
1910s British Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Polish Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Opal, White Diamond, Tsavorite, Black Opal, 18k...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Fire O...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Modern Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Gold-filled
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Tsavorite, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Gold Plate
2010s Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1990s American Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s French Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
1970s Swiss Retro Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Romantic Opal Jewelry
Opal, Aquamarine, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Brown Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapp...
2010s British Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver, Gold
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Artist Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s British Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Gold
Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Opal Jewelry
Opal, Silver, Britannia Standard Silver
2010s Australian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, Pearl, Tanzanite, 10k Gold, Gold Plate
2010s American Artist Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Moonstone, Opal, Agate, Crystal, Silver, St...
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s British Victorian Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, 10k Gold, White Gold
1960s American Artisan Vintage Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s Australian Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite,...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tourmaline, Gold Plate
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Tourmaline, Black Opal, Paraiba, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Romantic Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Opal, Gold Plate, Brass
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).