Vintage and Antique Opal Rings

Because of their iridescence, opals have long been favorite gemstones of fine jewelers, especially when their assignment is to make a ring that will catch light and enliven the hand of its wearer. No two opals are precisely alike, which means the range of their effects is great, from the intense rainbow hues that appear to emanate from precious white opals to the rare reds and more common yellows and oranges found in semi-precious fire opals. Though correctly referred to as stones, opals are actually hydrated or hardened chunks of silica gel, containing anywhere from 5 to 30 percent water, even opals are decidedly solid. That's why opals are often found in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone. It's also why opals are known to crack, causing a reduction in their trademark iridescence. When cracking occurs, it's a sign that the rock is literally drying out. To prevent this, some jewelers "fix" the opals they've set in their rings with a glue-like coating. This is a particularly common practice with Andean opals, which are turquoise in color and tend to be opaque. Historically, one of the most famous opals is the one that is thought to have been set into the mystic ring of Gyges, which is described in Plato's The Republic. The ring was found by a shepherd, who ventured into a crack in the ground after a severe earthquake. There he found a full-size brass horse, inside of which was a human skeleton with a ring on its finger. The shepherd took the ring, placed it on his own finger, and soon discovered that when he turned the ring's stone so that it faced the inside of his hand, he disappeared. Far more recently, opals were popular with Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts jewelers, who used opals in brooches, necklaces, and, or course, rings. Art Deco and Modernist jewelers were also attracted to opals. The vintage and estate opal rings from all of these eras are among the most collectible examples of opals on the market today.