Opal Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum, 18k Gold
2010s Colombian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Yellow Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Tanzanite, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Australian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Onyx, Opal, Pearl, Quartz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Silver
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sterling Silver, Brass, Mixed Metal
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1950s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s German Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Fire Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Turquoise, Opal, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Gold
2010s French Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal
2010s German Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Tanzanite...
20th Century Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Zircon, 1...
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 10k Gold
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Onyx, Opal, Turquoise, Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Labradorite, Opal, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Ruby, Fire Opal, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yel...
2010s German Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 14k 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).