Brilliant Colours: 10 Opal jewellery pieces to dazzle your eyes
updated the Monday, May 16, 2016There is nothing quite like the stunning, ever-changing rainbow colours of polished opal gemstones.
From glittery greens to fiery reds, ocean blues to calming lilacs, soft pinks to shimmering yellows, precious opals will definitely make any gemstone curator’s collection complete. The internal structure of the mineraloid makes it diffract light in the most peculiar and irregular way, making the stone take on a spectrum of different colours. Black opals are said to be the rarest, while white and greens are the most commonly found.
Opal is used in jewellery because of its unique and delightful properties. Who wouldn’t want to carry around a rainbow wherever they go? Apart from being eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing, high-quality opals are also incredibly hard to find – most of them are mined in Australia and their rarity makes them incredibly sought-after as well as pricey. Just be aware that synthetic opals are becoming more and more readily available, and while they may be a cheaper option in jewellery, they are nowhere near as lovely or valuable as natural opals.
Head up to the gallery above to check out 10 stunningly beautiful jewellery pieces that feature natural opals. You know what you’re getting yourself for your next birthday…
Angela Goh
Read more:
Black Brilliance: Kimberly McDonald opal and diamond ring
May Birthstone: 10 Emerald jewellery pieces to fall in love with