With their flashes of red, orange, and blue, opals may have more color than diamonds, but they're not nearly as tough. In fact, compared to most gemstones, opals are relatively soft and have a higher water content, so they can be damaged by things that wouldn't affect stones like rubies or sapphires. Taking care of opal jewelry properly isn't difficult, but it does require some special knowledge.

 

 

How to avoid damaging opal jewelry

Opal is fairly delicate and really shouldn't be worn every day. This is why opals aren't recommended for engagement or wedding rings. When you do wear your opal jewelry, take care not to hit or scrape it against anything. Even a relatively soft object, such as a wooden banister, could scratch or crack an opal.

 

Sudden changes in temperature can also damage opals, so don't wear your opal jewelry while doing dishes, cooking, or while you're in the shower. Keep in mind that opals can tolerate both some heat and cold; what damages them is abrupt temperature change, such as coming into an air-conditioned house from a hot day or washing your hands (with an opal ring on) in hot water then going out into the cold.

 

If you have an opal doublet or triplet, don't leave it immersed in water for prolonged periods, such as while you're swimming or taking a long bath. Of course, that doesn't mean if you forget to take it of in the shower or you're caught out in a storm your opal jewelry will be ruined. Just try not to let it sit in water for more than 5 minutes.

 

 

How to store opal jewelry

The most important issues to consider when deciding how to store opal jewelry are maintaining the moisture in the stone and avoiding sudden changes in temperature. Opals have a fairly high water content, usually around 5% or 6%. This is part of what gives them their color flashes, but it's also what makes them so fragile.

 

For day to day storage, keeping your opal jewelry in its own soft cloth bag will help keep it from getting scratched. If you need to store opal jewelry for a long period or you live in a very dry climate, seal it in a plastic bag with a slightly damp piece of fabric or cotton balls to help keep the gemstone from drying out. Avoid storing opal jewelry in a bank vault, where the humidly is low, or in a dehumidified room. You may have heard that opals should be stored in glycerin, but this isn't really necessary. It won't harm your opal, but all it will do is cover your jewelry in sticky stuff that's hard to wash off. If you're concerned about low humidity, just use the plastic bag method mentioned above.

 

Don't store opal jewelry in conditions where the temperatures could fall below freezing or become very hot, such as in a basement or attic. At high temperatures, the natural water in an opal can evaporate. Also, opal jewelry is better off stored away from windows, doors or heating/air conditioning units, so the gemstones aren't exposed to sudden temperature in changes.

 

 

How to clean opal jewelry

Keep in mind that some dust particles are actually harder than opal, so just rubbing the dust off can cause microscopic scratches that, over time, dull the shine on your opal. To clean your opal jewelry, first rinse it in Luke warm (never hot or cold) water and then carefully polish it with a piece of soft material such as tissue or silk. If the jewelry needs a more serious cleaning, use luke warm water with mild soap and a soft brush to gently scrub the back of the jewelry. As long as you don't do this frequently, you won't damage the opal.

 

Never use harsh detergents, gem polishing solutions, bleach, abrasives, or even toothpaste to clean opals. Some chemicals can alter the pH balance (acid/alkali ratio) of the opal or be absorbed into the stone. It's fine to soak a solid opal, but soaking a doublet or triplet opal is likely to cause the adhesive used in these opals to break down, which will make the stones look cloudy.

 

Ultrasonic cleaners are another thing you should keep your opal jewelry away from. These cleaners use vibrations that can cause opals to crack or weaken the adhesive in a doublet or triplet.

 

Cleaning is also a good time to look your opal jewelry over for wear and damage. If you notice the claws in the setting are loose or the stones are looking dull, take the piece to a jeweler or gem cutter for maintenance before the problem gets worse.

 

Opals are somewhat fragile gemstones, but when you know how to wear, clean and store opal jewelry properly, your opals will stay beautiful for decades.