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Our Favourite Opal Jewellery
Why we love opal jewellery
Let’s face it, it would be pretty weird to not love these stunning stones. But just in case you do need convincing, then enjoy this article where we outline our favourite opal jewellery here at Hoskings Jewellers.
Hang on, what’s so special about opals?
I mean, where do we start? First of all, opals are extremely rare and precious gemstones.
Opals have been found in small quantities in Brazil, Mexico, parts of Europe and the USA, but approximately 96% of the world’s supply of opal comes from right here in Australia. And 80% of that is from South Australia alone! Pretty fitting that it’s the national gemstone of Australia hey?
Opals' name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word “upala” which means 'jewel'. Opals were first mentioned in Roman manuscripts around 250 BC, at which time they were considered the most valuable all gems for their shifting colours in rainbow hues.
Nowadays opal is recognised as the birthstone for lucky October babies, promising the wearer good luck, love and happiness and strength. And because of the opal’s association with love and celebration, it’s also considered the perfect gift for married couples about to celebrate their 14th and 34th wedding anniversaries.
Different types of opals
One of the most remarkable features of opals is that no two stones ever appear the same. The luminescent range of colours is different to any other precious gemstone. Although each opal is unique, we group different types of opals into separate categories.
- Solid Opal – A solid opal is a stone that is made entirely of opal that hasn’t changed from its natural state, except being cut and polished into a gemstone. Some of the best-known solid opal types are the Black Opal, Crystal Opal, White Opal and Queensland Boulder Opal.
- Doublet and Triplet Opals – Doublet opals are a composite of two layers, with a top layer of thin opal glued to a dark stone bottom layer to make it look like a full piece of Opal. A Triplet Opal has the addition of a clear dome on top of the opal to make the stone appear larger and more rounded.
- Created Opal – Also known as reconstituted opal. These stones are made by combining finely ground pieces of natural stones together to resemble an opal stone. Although they’re not as durable as a solid opal, they make a fantastic affordable option for fashion jewellery pieces.
Stories about opal gemstones
Because opal has been so revered over the centuries, there are some great stories about this precious stone. Cleopatra, the renowned Queen of Egypt is said to have received opals from her husband Marc Anthony. It was also the stone that Napolean Bonaparte gave to his true love Josephine and was of such an impressive size – a whopping 700 carats - and colour that it was named “The burning of Troy”.
But our fascination with opals began much earlier in history. The ancient inhabitants of the Arabian desert believed opal captured the lightning that fell from the sky during thunderstorms, whilst Aboriginal Australians thought that opals were created when the colours of the rainbow touched the earth. Ancient Greeks considered opals as a talisman against disease and helped its wearers develop the gift of prophesy.
Opals were initially considered to be a lucky charm because they were said to hold the virtue of every gemstone whose colour appeared in the stone! And some believed that if you wrapped an opal stone in a fresh bay leaf and held it in your hand, you’d become invisible!
You’re off to try that right now, aren’t you?
We think the moral of the story is that everyone needs to create their OWN story with a beautiful piece of opal jewellery. Let’s see if we can help you with that!
Our list of favourite opal jewellery
- This Von Treskow 9ct gold pendant with a SPECTACULAR 5 carat pear-shaped opal stone. Drool.
Is this not the epitome of refined luxe? Can’t you just imagine popping this on with a simple Valentino dress, hopping onto a yacht in Monte Carlo, sipping on a glass of Dom and of course, sparking like the divine creature that you are in this divine opal pendant? The possibilities are endless!
To see our full collection of opal pendants, click here.
- Sticking with the classic opal set in gold. Check out this 9ct gold ring with created opal stone.
This simply beautiful ring can be worn by itself and is sure to catch many admiring glances on its own right. But pair it with these gorgeous matching opal studs and it becomes a vibe!
You can browse Hosking’s opal rings here.
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You can never, ever have too many pairs of studs. And if you don’t already own these Von Treskow silver studs with a 6mm blue Czelline opal, then you MUST rectify that situation right now!
The mesmerising iridescent colour of this Czelline opal perfectly complements the sterling silver surrounds of these simply stunning stud earrings. We know you’ll love them as much as we do.
Click here to view more of Hoskings opal stud earrings. - Of course, opals don’t always come in these simpler shapes. Check out these gorgeous pear shape hook earrings with a 7 x 4mm blue opal inlay.
These earrings will look good with any outfit and can be worn on almost any occasion. They’re not only uniquely stylish, they’re also remarkably affordable. So why not go ahead and treat yourself?
Have fun checking out our full range of opal earrings here.
- While we’re on the subject of different shapes, this striking sterling silver ring with a triangular shaped created opal is a stunner!
Having the opal delicately balanced between two bands really makes a feature of this precious gemstone for a fabulous modern look.
- If we can be so bold, can we suggest that you pair this uber-stylish Von Treskow silver and opal necklace with the ring above?
This classic Von Treskow styled necklace with a sterling silver fine ball chain features a 42cm pear-shaped white Czelline opal that will perfectly compliment any outfit.But, if you’d rather a quick browse, then you can see all of Hoskings Opal necklaces here.
- And of course, it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t share all this opal goodness with the blokes, so Hoskings has some very attractive men’s opal rings in store and online.
Take this 9ct gold blue triplet opal or this sterling silver oval triplet signet ring both stunning options suiting different budgets and colour preferences.
That’s it! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our list of favourite opal jewellery. We could go on forever and feature each delightful piece of opal jewellery we have as they’re all our favourites! But perhaps this is where our opal story ends, and your opal story starts!
If you’d like more information about Hoskings range of opal jewellery, our customer service team members will be help you in store, or by calling these numbers:
VIC/ NSW/ QLD & TAS: 1800 819 796
NT/WA or SA: 08) 8981 8895
Written by: Niamh Hislop
Photo credit:
Daria Kopylova - Unsplash
Elina Lee - Unsplash
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