Caring For Opals - How to Avoid Damaging Opal Jewelry

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Author: Elizabeth Henderson

The delicate beauty of opals can easily be damaged with careless wear and inadequate storage. Because they are porous, which means that they absorb moisture and other fluids, caring for opals is different from most other fine jewelry. But caring for opals is vital if you want to preserve their value and stunning opalescence for years to come.

Opals contain up to 6% water so to preserve their structure, they need to be exposed regularly to trace amounts of moisture. The easiest way to care for your opals is to wear them regularly because moisture is picked up naturally from the skin during wear. When opal jewelry is locked away in jewelry boxes without air or moisture, the opals can crack from dehydration.

Whether your opal jewelry is set with a complete gemstone, or a thin slice of opal attached to a backing material, opals are porous and fragile. They are also relatively soft, having a hardness of just 5.50-6.50 compared with the 10.0 of a diamond. This means that opals can be easily scratched, cracked and even lose their fiery color if you allow them to come into contact with harsh chemicals, such as household cleaners, polishes and garden products.

But think about other products too!

All too often women finish dressing, putting on their makeup and adding jewelry before finishing their hair. Hair spray is too harsh for opal jewelry. In fact, all personal grooming products, such as cologne deodorant are harmful to opals and should be applied before the jewelry is fastened on.

Extremes of heat or cold can harm opals too. This does not mean that you cannot wear them is it is a hot day. But do be sensible about extremes of temperature, especially when wearing an opal ring. Do not reach into the ice maker for ice cubes then enter a hot shower. That will be just too much of a shock for your opal jewelry! And ALWAYS remove opals before showering, swimming or soaking in a hot tub!

If your opal jewelry becomes very dirty, use clean lukewarm water to briefly soak the opals and agitate the worst of the dirt with a soft toothbrush or jewelry brush. Rinse in plain water and gently blot dry with a plush towel. Caring for opals is largely a question of common sense and appreciation for the fragility of this beautiful gemstone. After all it has spent thousands of years in formation, make sure you treat it well and it will give a lifetime of pleasure.

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