How To Choose The Best Opal Ring For You

Opal rings are beautiful, unique and a pleasure to wear. When trying to select the perfect Opal ring for you there are a number of considerations to take into account.

Every opal is unique and rare. It is impossible to find two Opals that looks the same unless they come from the same stone and have been sawn in half. It is one of the rarest gemstones to own and each opal has different characteristics and color play.

There are two main things you need to consider before purchasing a beautiful Opal ring. First, the ring design. This can be determined by the way you intend to wear the ring (daily or casually) and what sort of environment you will be wearing the ring in. Secondly is the type of Opal. Lets take a closer look.

Opal Ring Design

Why does the design of the ring matter? Because the ring design will determine how protected the Opal is going to be when you wear it.

Claw Set Opal Rings

Claw set Opal rings sit the Opal high up in the air to allow light to flow around the Opal. This creates a very elegant looking ring but it does mean that the Opal is going to be exposed. Ideal for:

• Cocktail Rings for occasional wear
• Birthstone rings that are worn on special occasions
• If the wearer is in an environment where the Opal will not get caught on anything then this is a suitable ring to wear everyday.

Bezel Set Opal Ring

Bezel set Opal rings offer the best protection tot he Opal because the metal wraps around the Opal. The designs of these rings can be very beautiful and if the Opal is bright it can enhance the colors of the Opal. Ideal for:

• Daily wear
• When the wearer is in an environment where the Opal my be knocked or accidental bumped against something.

Opal Type

The next thing to consider is the Opal type. This is purely a personal prefrence but it can have a huge impact on the price. Black Opals are the most expensive but if you are looking for a more affordable option be sure to checkout the Boulder Opal rings and the Opal Doublet rings.

Black Opal Rings 

Black opals vary in colour from blue to rare fire red colours. The best black opals make ideal ring stones as the colour play can be seen from all sides and a high cabochon helps to display the colour range in opal rings. Only black opal with body tone of N1 to N4 are considered Black Opal. Due to the high cost of bright black opals they are  set in gold setting and black opals or semi black opals are mostly set in sterling silver rings

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Crystal Opal Rings

Crystal opals are translucent and mostly blue in colour from pale blue to deep sea blue. They also come in greens to sunset fire colors. Crystal opals are found over most the Australian opal fields as well as in Mexico and Brazil. Australian crystal Opals are mostly from the South Australian opal fields of Cooper Pedy and small quantities are found in Lightning Ridge and some even in boulder opal fields of Queensland.

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Boulder Opal Rings

Boulder opal is found in the Outback areas of Queensland Australia. This opal is formed on natural ironstone backing and is mostly flat. It is rare to get cabochon stones. But this opal is renowned for its bright colours and intensity of fire colours. In Queensland there are two opal mining fields that create unique boulder opal but have veins of colour running through the ironstone potch. These make unique large opal rings known as Yowah Opal Rings and Koroit Opal Rings. Wood fossil rings are boulder opals that have wood or vegetation replacement as opal and are a great conversation ring to try and explain how it was formed.

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Ethiopian Opal Rings

Ethiopian Opals display good pattern and fire. They make beautiful Opal rings. Some Ethiopian Opal is smoked which makes the Crystal Opal turn black so it looks like Australian black Opal. On Opal Auctions you will clearly see in the descrption if the Opal has been smoked or not.

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Inlay Opal Rings

Inlay Opal is natural slices of Crystal Opal, cut to set shape of bezel in the ring. The base of the ring is black colour so when the Opal is set and polished it will show stronger fire colour. If solid crystal opal is set with back of the ring enclosed and black opal it is termed to be enhnaced.

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Mexican Opal Rings

Mexican Opal such as fire opal make amazing cluster opal rings. Freeform shapes can make very creative opal rings.  

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Indonesian Opal Rings

These opals are volcanic and are wood replacement. Most have been heat and oil treated

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Opalite rings

Also known as cats eye opal or green opal mare olive green colour opals from brazil and make large size opal rings 

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Pink Opal Rings

Pink opals are found in Peru and also in western Australia and can be plain or swirl patterns and are popular with females and are reasonable price compared to other more expensive opals 

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Tiffany Opal Ring

Tiffany opal is mined in Utah usa and makes large veined patterned rings

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Triplet Opal Rings

This Opal is a natural thin slice of Opal with a man made top and bottom added. This is one way to own a bright beautiful Opal for fraction cost of a solid Opal ring. Care should be taken in not wearing this ring while washing dishes so that the longevity of the ring is increased. 

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Mosaic Opal Rings

The Mosaic Opal is made same the same way as a Triplet Opal but is made from small Opal chips glued together on a man made base and top. Some of these Mosaic Opals have very bright colour play and are incredibly attractive.

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Doublet Opal Rings

This Opal is a natural slice of thin Opal set on natural base, mostly natural ironstone from Queensland opal fields and is one way to own bright opal for fraction cost of a solid opal ring. Opal doublet rings are easily the best value for money becuase they can show incredible Opal colors for a very reasonable price.

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Opals And Gemstone Rings

Today many people enjoy pleasure of wearing rings with more than one gemstone. Ethiopian Opal and Tanzanite is a popular combination, as well as Black Opal and Amethyst. Opals of all types are set with brilliant cut genuine diamonds in gold rings and in silver rings man made cz are used to represent diamonds.

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