Opal Jewelry
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Moonstone, Opal, Quartz, Ruby, Yellow Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, 15k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century French Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s European Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 15k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1890s European Late Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal
1890s British Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, Silver
1860s Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Enamel
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s Swedish Renaissance Revival Antique Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Pearl, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century European Antique Opal Jewelry
Onyx, Opal
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Onyx, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 15k Gold, Silver
19th Century French Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
1880s European Contemporary Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold
1860s Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 14k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
19th Century Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
1880s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 15k Gold
1890s Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 19th Century Victorian Antique Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 15k Gold, Rose 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).