All the Treasures Have Been Found! Or Have They?

 All the treasures have been found of  Galaxy Opal! And what about the famous opals downunder?

That's what I thought when I first set foot in the red dust of western Queensland, Outback Australia.

"Whatever is to be found in the ground has already been found!"... "Treasures are for Long John Silver, buried, dug up and lost again hundreds of years ago by pirates and men of adventure!"

Fancy being sent as a travelling minister to such a desolate God forsaken country. As if the isolation, the heat, the dust and the gravel road corrugations were not enough, there were those pesky flies. 'Don't worry about 'em!' was the experienced advice of the country bumpkins who didn't know there could be such a place without them. "It won't hurt ya if ya swallow one or two with ya sandwich."

The skies in Western Queensland are very blue during the day and very black at night. I'm sure if Copernicus had aimed his telescope into the night sky of the outback, he would have discovered a lot more than he did. No light pollution here. Just one magnificent ebony backdrop, sprinkled with endless galaxies of stars.

Not that the wife and I saw much of the sky in the daytime. It was the sparkling things in the ground that held more fascination to us. Being confirmed rock hounds, It didn't take long to find out that we were travelling through some of the most famous gemstone country in the world. Gravel pits became treasure troves. Dried out creeks, Treasure Islands.

Oblivious to the fly's and the heat, we would have our heads tilted toward the ground while our eyes darted back and forth from one rock to the other, looking for agates topaz, onyx, petrified wood and anything else that exhibited the molten glass tell tale signs of a gemstone. On those very hot days, we would sit in the middle of a shallow creek sifting through the gravel.

But what happened to us when we hit the opal town of Yowah, will always remain in our memory. For the first time we encountered boulder opal in the form of what are known as 'Yowah nuts' Suddenly, interest in all other gemstones was pushed aside in favour of this amazing stone that changes color, encompasses the whole spectrum of the rainbow, and displays ever changing patterns that simulate pictures of mountain and ocean scenes, faces, all kinds of objects and abstract shapes that challenge the imagination.

There are many gemstones in Australia But Opal must be the most unique and most colorful. At the Opalmine blog you will see them in all their varieties. Leave a message if you need help in touring the mines.

Yowah is but one of a number of fascinating outback opal fields in Australia. The Australian 'bush' has captured our hearts, and to this day we must return again and again to savour its delights.

Its amazing that, just like snowflakes, there are an endless array of jewelry designs! Click on http://www.opalmine.com to see gemstones such as you have never seen before.

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Coober Pedy - The Opal Capital Of Australia

 Coober Pedy is without a doubt one of the most unique outback destinations in Opal Price. Set in a stark arid landscape often compared to Mars, this outback mining town where many people live underground is the source of most of the world's precious opal production.

Coober Pedy is located about 850 kilometres north of Adelaide in remote outback Australia. The name Coober Pedy comes from a local indigenous language, Kupa meaning 'white man' and Piti meaning 'hole', and translates as 'white fellas hole in the ground', reflecting the fact that Coober Pedy is the Opal Capital of Australia and the world. It also reflects the fact many residents live in homes excavated underground due to the extreme climatic conditions of the area.

Opal mining commenced in Coober Pedy in 1915 and continues today. In that time the outback town has evolved in to one of the most unique places in Australia and perhaps the world. A cosmopolitan town of 3,500 inhabitants from over 45 different nationalities, it is today a relaxed and friendly town characterised by cultural tolerance, diversity and acceptance.

Apart from opal production, Coober Pedy is known for its unique style of underground living. Visitors can find a range of underground accommodation in addition to above ground accommodation for those who prefer it. There are many often luxurious underground homes to explore in addition to underground shops, museums, art galleries and mines.

Coober Pedy enjoys a typical semi-desert climate. Between April and October the weather is pleasant, with mild daytime temperatures of 16 to 20 C but cold desert nights. From November to March, summer temperatures are hot and range from 35 to 45 C, and occasionally reach as high as 50 C. No wonder the locals prefer to live in the relative comfort of underground homes! Annual rainfall is unpredictable and minimal at an average of around 175 millimetres.

Opal was first found on the surface at Coober Pedy in 1915, while the New Colorado Prospecting Syndicate consisting of Jim Hutchison, his son William Hutchison, P Winch and M McKenzie were searching unsuccessfully for gold south in the area. This was on the 1st of February 1915, and the first opal claim was pegged eight days later. Originally known as the Stuart Range Opal Field (after early explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European explorer to traverse the area in 1858), this name was changed to Coober Pedy in 1920.

Following the completion of the Trans Continental Railway in 1917, a number of construction workers moved on to Coober Pedy and were followed by soldiers returning from World War 1. Conditions were harsh, with water and provisions having to be transported great distances and under trying conditions. The introduction of large underground water tanks improved the situation only marginally, as the water entitlement was only 60 litres per week.

Today Coober Pedy's water is pumped from an underground source 24 kilometres north of the town. The water is treated by reverse osmosis before entering the town water supply system, en expensive process resulting in water costs of $5 per 1,000 litres. Nevertheless, the water is of excellent quality and people should have no reservations about drinking it!

Opal prices fell dramatically and production almost came to a standstill during the Great Depression of the 1930's. As has been typical of Coober Pedy's history of cyclic boom and bust periods over the decades, an Aboriginal woman named Tottie Bryant made a sensational opal find in 1946 which initiated a new rush to the Coober Pedy opal fields. Mining activity grew rapidly during the 1960s as many new European migrants arrived seeking their fortunes. Since then, opal mining has develop into a multi million dollar industry and Coober Pedy has grown into a modern outback mining town.

Opal is a type of silica similar to quartz, but it contains water within its mineral structure. Precious opal typically contains 6% to 10% water. Opal occurs in many varieties, including precious opal and potch. In precious opal, brilliant colours are created by the diffraction of white light by silica spheres and voids within the opal structure, similar to a prism effect. The colour range of a precious opal is determined by the size and spacing of the silica spheres. Smaller spheres produce blue opal only, while larger spheres produce red opal. Red opal can also display the entire spectrum of colours. Opal colour is influenced by the angle of the light falling on it, and can change or disappear as the stone is rotated. Potch opal has silica spheres which are too small and irregular to produce colour.

If you are interested in purchasing precious opal, be aware that to date attempts to establish guidelines for setting opal values have been largely unsuccessful. This is because of the infinite variation in colour pattern found in opals. The most important factors determining the price of opal are the background colour (black opal being more valuable than clear or crystal opal, which in turn is more valuable than white or milky opal), the dominant fire colour (red-fire opal being more valuable than a green opal, which in turn is more valuable than blue opal), and the colour pattern (harlequin opal with patches of colour is more valuable than pinfire opal with speckled colour). Be aware also that there is a significant difference between the value of uncut opal and that of a cut and polished stone.

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Opal Jewelry - Why is It So Special?

 Opal can be made into so many different items of Australian Black Opal. Sure, we all know that there are opal pendants, opal rings, opal earrings and so on, but opals, as opposed to other stones like diamonds and rubies etc, can be made into special kinds of jewelry.

There is an opal variety from Australia called Koroit and this is an unattractive type of stone when we compare it to an Australian Black Opal. It is mostly a reddish, dark brown lump of ironstone with slashes of opal running randomly through it. A jeweler cannot do much with that you might think, but simply drill a hole through it and attach a hefty chain or a cheap leather thread and it makes a gorgeous chunky necklace and it looks great on men as well as women.

Then there is boulder opal which often comes as a piece of opal connected naturally to a piece of ironstone or sandstone. The opal stone is undulating and may not have any of the fire associated with gem quality opal but when we look at it closely it has a pattern that might look like a seascape or a view of a mountain range or all kinds of other things. It might be the kind of thing you just like to stare at and imagine seeing all kinds of things in. Try doing that to a diamond! The beauty of a piece like this is that it is not gem quality and is very inexpensive.

I love jewelry like that because not only is it cheap to purchase but when you wear it people ask questions about it and they want to have a close up inspection of it. It is a great conversation starter. You never get people asking you if they can they have a look at your topaz ring. They never say: "Oh, where did you get that ring?" But with a $40 necklace of cheap Koroit or Boulder Opal you will get strangers asking what sort of stone it is and where did it come from.

Then there is one of my favorites Opal Inlay Jewelry. Beautiful pieces of crystal opal are set into the metal of rings, earrings and pendants. The opal is finished off flush with the surrounding metal. We often see this with boring stones such as Onyx and other lame looking minerals with very little color. But, when you make inlay opal jewelry normally you would use high quality opal and the results are fantastic.

You can put nearly any other gemstone next to opal it and it will enhance the piece of jewelry. Opals with diamond accents will always look stunning. Conversely, you can have a pink topaz or emerald main stone with inlay opals on each side and you have a brilliant item of jewelry then.

Opals can be inlayed, prong set or bezel set. They can be glued in place where as other stones will not appear attractive this way.

One comforting aspect of opal jewelry is that the stone will be mined by lonely men or husband and wife teams living in harsh conditions in outback Australia. There are no big companies involved and there is no forced labor here. It is a labor of love. Think about the cutting of rubies and other stones which is often done by children who should be at school. I am an opal cutter and although it is labor intensive I enjoy doing it and I have never met an opal cutter who is not passionate about opals so there is a kind of love attached to these stones all the way through from the man underground in the middle of nowhere to the wife or enthusiast carefully cutting and polishing the stone.

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5 Advantages of Gifting Your Friend Crystal Necklaces

Friends do secure a special place in our life. They are important and they serve important roles when we are in tension. They often help us out of our problems and give us comfort in tense situations. Thus, saving the relationship is really important. Now, it is your turn to look after their benefits. You can show your love and concern for them by giving them small necklaces made of crystal as a token of love for them. We specifically choose crystal necklace because crystals have a deeper meaning. They are much more that they appeal and help to bring positivity to life. The types of Opal Heart Necklace that you can gift them and the advantages behind them are as follows:

For Success

If you want your friend to find success in life then you can gift them the crystal necklace that is made of Malachite, Turquoise, Moss Agate, Chrysoprase and Green Tourmalines. They represent the Earth elements. The crystals can be found in different colors like brown, green and black. Not only success, they help to make one's life peaceful. They help to clean the root chakra, bringing stability and creating an effect of abundance.

For Intellect

I am sure that your friend will punch you if you gift them the intellect controlling crystal necklace. This crystal will give them the presence of mind. The main types of crystals are jasper, Citrine, Aventurine, and Ametrine. They are mostly clear in their color. The crystals represent Air elements and help to cleanse the heart chakra. Some of the crystals are even yellow. They are also believed to bring improvement in the communication of a person.

For Strength and Vitality

The crystals that help to get strength, vitality, energy, will power and courage are Red Jasper, gold Tiger's eye, Carnelian, Sunstone, Clear Quartz and Topaz. They are mostly red or orange in color representing the elements of Fire. They help in cleaning the solar plexus chakra.

For Peace

The most common crystal necklace that you would find under this category are Azurite, Amenthyst, Aquamarine, Agate, Blue Lace, Lupis Lazuli, Opal pink, Calcite, Tourmaline, and Selenite. These crystals represent the Water elements and help to clean the sacral chakra bringing love, joy, compassion, and purification in the life of the person.

For Spirituality

The types of crystal necklace under this category are Mother of Pearl, Amber, Copal, Petrified wood, Fossils, etc. They do not have any specific color. They clean the throat chakra, crown chakra, and the third eye. The crystals represent the elements of Akasha and help one to connect with their spiritual self. The person is also able to deal with their past in a better way.

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The Beauty of an Opal Bracelet

 A day stunning and value to addition to any respectable collection of jewelry is an opal bracelet. Opals are incredibly colorful, but you must know how to properly care for them if you want to maintain that stunning beauty. There are many things to remember about the opal bracelet.

Opals are varied unique because they are cut in a different fashion and other precious gems. When opals are mined, the miners themselves take extraordinary care when handling the beautiful stones. This adds their beauty and their value.

The stones of an opal bracelet are both vibrant and radiant in their color, with a different sort of color combination if they are black opals or white opals. Either the opal is do fantastic things when playing off the light. The color itself radiates from moisture that is trapped within the stone.

The stones of an opal bracelet are polished in such a way that they do do not usually crack for their protection. It for some tragic reason they were to contact the color would slowly fade right out of them and your bracelet with the will no longer.

An opal bracelet can have as few as one opal or as many as twenty, depending on the style and size. Remember to treat your opal with great care because they are rather fragile gems. You should limit your time for wearing an opal bracelet because even the natural oils from your skin can damage them. Wearing the opal bracelet for special occasions and the like is fine, as long as you do not forget you are wearing it.

Nor should they be immersed in any sort of liquids because that also tends to damage the opals. When you are finished wearing your opal bracelet for the evening, it is smart to let it air out and dry.

If the opal somehow does become dirty you want to clean it immediately. To take a toothbrush and cup of water to it might damage it, even though this method works well with other pieces of jewelry.

You also may want to look into specially produced jewelry cleaners that are made specifically to treat the precious gems that are contained in your opal bracelet. If you are worried about cleaning your bracelet, you might want to take it to a professional jewelry maker and ask them about cleaning your bracelet. This way you know it will be cleaned right, without damage done to your bracelet.

Using only a few steps, it is easy to care for your opal bracelet. As long as they remain flawless, you will have a beautiful and valuable heirloom to pass down for hundreds, if not thousands of years to come.

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 In a nut shell, the Black Opal Ring is a symbol of elegance and mystique. There are a lot of things that have caught the attention of a lot people when it comes to these stones. One is that the beautiful colors that can be seen in each opal. Beneath its dark exterior lies a beauty like no other, and only a true jewel lover can appreciate these features. And for any occasion, even for an engagement ring, these precious stones can be the best gift choice.

You have to admit, black opals are very interesting jewelry pieces. Its enigmatic form and soft texture makes for a great ring centerpiece. A black stone with a bedazzling array of colors beneath the shiny exterior and you'll only keep wondering what these black opals are exactly. And where better to put these objects than on a ring right? These days, black opal rings have become very popular when it comes to gift choices, particularly for engagements.

So if you're deciding on what ring to go with on your engagement, why not try a black opal ring? Diamonds are great, but this can be a lot better. Rather than going with the conventional rings that people go for, why not go with these black beauties? Not only is it a unique choice, these rings are also quite cheaper than your typical diamond rings.

And think about the message that you'll be sending to your loved one with these extraordinary jewelry pieces. It isn't everyday that this type of ring gets to be given away for engagements. The stone on this ring will represent that love that, like the colors found in each stone, grows deeper and deeper. It's the perfect engagement ring!

So for your ring choices, whether for an engagement or as a gift, you can't go wrong with a black opal ring.

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Diamonds Are Not The Only Option For Women's Wedding Rings

 One of the curious things is that, women have forever loved diamonds the most. But that trend is changing nowadays and is most apparent today, in the world of Opal Wedding Rings. Thankfully, people today are much more open to new trends.

Opal, the one jewel which has been ignored for years by people deciding to settle down, the one jewel, the reputation of which has suffered since the Victorian times is back in the wedding market for good. And you won't believe what the reason for its unfortunate decline in popularity was. It was the death of a fictional character in a Victorian novel!

Mercifully, those times of supreme ignorance have passed. But, it is a popular belief, even today, that the earlier the times, the more ridiculous the beliefs. Ironically, in the Middle Ages, which was much before the Victorian period, the opal was considered a blessing to have. Even in those times, people understood the various aspects of marriage. They believed that, the different colours seen in an opal reflected the different nuances of married life. It was also believed that, the various colours of the opal represented the various characteristics attributed to the zodiac signs.

Australia is renowned internationally for its exports of gold, opals and sapphires. It produces more than 90% of the world's opals. Coober Pedy, Lightening Ridge, Quilpie are only a few mines that are responsible for this humongous production. Therefore, it is only natural, that in Australia, women's wedding rings are increasingly being made of opals. And not just women, men are even more interested in such jewels than ever before. More so, because they can make a good business out of it by selling them to the women! Jokes apart, men have become more fashion conscious and are thus, experimenting more. They have become increasingly accepting of the idea of metro-sexuality.

Talking of opals, these beauties can be of different types. As opals are made of silica and water, they are generally quite soft. But certain opals can naturally be quite hard. These are the much older ones.

The black opals comprise of a small fraction of the total production of opals because of their lesser availability. The Lightening Ridge mines of New South Wales in Australia produce them. You can search for images on the internet for the black opal. You will see and recognise the fact that, black opals can be breathtakingly beautiful. Those which exude a navy bluish colour amidst all the blackness, give the impression of being some charmed object. The more you look at it, the more you cannot help but peer into it, as if you want to get lost in its mysterious beauty.

Not bad for a wedding ring at all. Given, how you too would want your spouse to remain enamoured of your charms for life, mysterious or otherwise.

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How to Select an Opal Engagement Ring

 Do you have any plans of proposing to the woman whom you want to spend the forever with? Obviously, having your future wife state a resounding "yes" when you pop the question will bring excitement and joy to you, but seeing her eyes light up with your ring is even better. Your proposal is the start of your eternity with her, and it needs a lot of preparation: the romantic place, the unique way of asking her to be your wife and of course, the most important object which discreetly announces that she is your fiancé: the opal engagement ring.

Today's engagement ring is not limited to the common diamond only. With all the creative jewelers worldwide and with all the gemstones coming from different sides of the globe, one can choose from a huge collection of rings in different hues and designs. Why be cliche when you can stand out with the purchase of an amazing gemstone. Australian opal engagement rings are the best choice since the gemstone itself is crafted in the country where the best Opals originated: Australia. But since these rings are sold at a high price, many low quality varieties are available in shops that are very deceiving, only skilled jewelers can recognize their ingenuity.

How do experts recognize the difference between precious and semi-precious Australian opal engagement rings? Here are the two categories that will guide you in choosing the ring your beloved will be flaunting to her friends:

- Radiance- When you look at the gemstone in different angles, you will be seeing several shining colors too, even though the stone is solidly black in color. This is just one of the characteristics that differentiate Opals from the rest of the stones, as the hues of this jewel are simply mesmerizing. If an Australian Opal doesn't reflect a lot of colors, it doesn't mean that it is not authentic. One should look closely if the sparkle is vibrant and if the stone is sandwiched to a base stone or another jewel as it may be a doublet or triplet. A buyer must examine an Opal under a bright light.

- Weight- Opals, like Diamonds, are also measured in karats. The higher the karat value, the more expensive the stone is. Try to weigh the jewel with your own hand to see if the stone is heavier enough to be considered real.

The radiance and the weight of the Opal dictate its price in the market. But do not be fooled if an engagement ring is expensive since sometimes, the price does not connote the quality of the product itself. Consider these tips in buying your rings of engagement:

- Buy from a trusted jeweler. Yes, this may mean an expensive jewelry too, but come to think of it, a shop which already established its name in the jewelry industry have gained the conviction of numerous clients through the years. Besides, these shops have ascertained good rapport with its customers; they will guide you in opting for the jewelry of your choice. Remember: shops which offer precious and semi-precious stones of superior quality to their patrons are the ones which last in this kind of business. When selecting opals try to find jewelers that purchase their stones directly from Australia. This means that you get the best gemstone (from Australia) without too many middlemen marking up the price.

- Reflect on store hopping. In order to purchase the ring of your preference, you should not settle on one trusted store only. Think of browsing through the catalogs of all the shops you have found, and choose your favorites on their collection. In this way, you will avoid the regret of buying the ring with better design and color.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and shop for Australian opal engagement rings. You are sure to see those pearly whites flash behind those luscious lips after presenting an opal engagement ring. If your planning your bride celebrates an October birthday, an opal engagement ring will suit her even better as opal is the October birthstone.

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Finding the Perfect Opal Ring

Opal rings have been famous throughout history for their amazing display of colors and brilliant patterns. Many cultures in the ancient world regarded them as luxurious charms of fortune and good tidings. Even to this day, opal rings are highly desired for their unique beauty and elegance. This kind of jewelry is perfect for gifts since each opal is natural, rare, and unique. If you're looking for one, you're bound to be curious as to how to find the one that's perfect for your needs, budget, and tastes. Here are a few things to keep in mind in your quest for a perfect opal ring.

Finding the perfect opal ring depends on finding a high quality stone to use as the centerpiece. Opals are graded on four primary attributes: their patterns, colors, shape, and clarity.

Each opal ring has its own distinct patterns of swirling colors hidden within the stone and released when exposed to light. While the particular pattern that looks best to you is up to your own tastes, there is one thing that you should be looking for regardless, and that is brilliance. High quality opal rings will have patterns that are bold, brilliant, and beautiful. If the pattern seems weak, the ring will not be as good as it could be.

Many people feel that the more colors there are represented in an opal ring, the better the jewelry is. This is not necessarily true, however. Many of the best models only show two colors, but show them strongly. If the person you intend to buy the opal ring for has a favorite color, try to make sure that this is represented both richly and boldly.

The best opal rings have centerpieces which are dome shaped. This provides much more brilliance than a flat cut stone. Flat cuts are better used as inlays to accentuate the center of the ring than as the centerpiece themselves.

The clarity of an opal ring is absolutely crucial. Small sand particles often get stuck in opal stones, and if they are big enough they can mar the surface or interior of the stone. This will absolutely ruin the overall aesthetic of the ring, and detract from its value.

The perfect opal ring will also have a fantastic setting. The most popular choices for this are gold and white gold. This depends on the colors of the opal, so it must be decided on a case by case basis. As a general rule of thumb, offsetting the color of the band material with the color of the opal will draw more attention to the ring, helping it to stand out and be noticed. For instance, it's more common to see black opal rings with white gold.

In the end, finding the perfect opal ring is all about perseverance and knowledge. Knowing how to choose a high quality opal will get you most of the way there, but you still need to put forth the effort to discover it. Don't lose heart, and never settle for anything short of perfection!

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The Beauty of an Opal Bracelet

 A day stunning and value to addition to any respectable collection of jewelry is an opal bracelet. Opals are incredibly colorful, but you must know how to properly care for them if you want to maintain that stunning beauty. There are many things to remember about the opal bracelet.

Opals are varied unique because they are cut in a different fashion and other precious gems. When opals are mined, the miners themselves take extraordinary care when handling the beautiful stones. This adds their beauty and their value.

The stones of an opal bracelet are both vibrant and radiant in their color, with a different sort of color combination if they are black opals or white opals. Either the opal is do fantastic things when playing off the light. The color itself radiates from moisture that is trapped within the stone.

The stones of an opal bracelet are polished in such a way that they do do not usually crack for their protection. It for some tragic reason they were to contact the color would slowly fade right out of them and your bracelet with the will no longer.

An opal bracelet can have as few as one opal or as many as twenty, depending on the style and size. Remember to treat your opal with great care because they are rather fragile gems. You should limit your time for wearing an opal bracelet because even the natural oils from your skin can damage them. Wearing the opal bracelet for special occasions and the like is fine, as long as you do not forget you are wearing it.

Nor should they be immersed in any sort of liquids because that also tends to damage the opals. When you are finished wearing your opal bracelet for the evening, it is smart to let it air out and dry.

If the opal somehow does become dirty you want to clean it immediately. To take a toothbrush and cup of water to it might damage it, even though this method works well with other pieces of jewelry.

You also may want to look into specially produced jewelry cleaners that are made specifically to treat the precious gems that are contained in your opal bracelet. If you are worried about cleaning your bracelet, you might want to take it to a professional jewelry maker and ask them about cleaning your bracelet. This way you know it will be cleaned right, without damage done to your bracelet.

Using only a few steps, it is easy to care for your opal bracelet. As long as they remain flawless, you will have a beautiful and valuable heirloom to pass down for hundreds, if not thousands of years to come.

Shop Now:https://australianopaldirect.com/bracelets/

Why 14k Gold Opal Earrings Are A Great Choice

Whether you are shopping for a gift for the holidays, or you are just looking for a way to dress up an particular outfit, don't neglect the choices that are offered when you are looking for 14k gold opal earrings. If you are looking for a gemstone-metal combination that really pops, look no further than this unique combination. People have always loved the ever-changing, mercurial look of this gems, and of course gold has been a valuable commodity since time immemorial, but you'll find that ancient history aside, you'll always be able to get a great look out of this particular mix of bright colors and conservative setting.

This precious metal is an excellent choice when it comes to deciding what you want in an earring setting. The use of gold when you are speaking of earrings is a good one; although it is soft, people are less likely to have an allergy to it than to nickel. Many earring posts are made from a nickel alloy of some sort, causing people who are overly sensitive to get hives, and you'll find that using this valuable metal prevents this. Similarly, the use of 14k gold is a great choice because it tends to be firmer and less likely to get bent out of shape than that of 24k, which is purer. Just make sure that you know what has been used to alloy this material.

Opals, rather are than being a stone, exactly, are considered mineraloids; despite being quite solid, they have a high percentage of water in them, which results in them gaining a beautiful shine and a deep and vibrant variety of colors that can appear. You'll find that most of this stones are never faceted; they are usually cut into cabuchons and polished, lending them a uniquely sleek and perfectly smooth look which is highly prized. You can find opals in a wide variety of colors and often they are selected based on what colors they most often reflect. For instance, white opals are fairly white and opaque, while black opals and fire opals show offer a darker, yet no less brilliant spectrum. This gemstones are known for being delicate gems and do well when secured by a firm setting.

When you are looking for earrings, 14k gold opal earrings are a great choice. If you're looking for something somewhat innocent or charming, look into the white opal, whereas if you are looking for something that will pop a little more, check out what you can find in terms of fire opal. In any case, jewelry of this sort will always make a statement, so keep an eye out for the right pieces for your own collection.

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On Trend Necklaces for Spring

If you are looking for the trendy necklaces for the spring, a good place to start your search is with the different Opal Necklace collections. You will discover what's new with the individual designers and you will discover some common themes - aka trends.

Gems en Vogue II

It's no surprise that gems are at the heart of this collection - beautiful pastels blended into one gorgeous dragonfly necklace and bright colors standing on their own. The multi-gemstone Dragonfly & Cultured Spice Pearl necklace is a mixture of gems and cultured pearls strung on a pearlescent lilac strand. The wings of the dragonfly pendant combine apatite stones, dark pink sapphires, rubies, iolites, tanzanites, amethysts and pink quartz. All gemstones are in claw and bead settings. The pendant is just under 2 inches long and just over 2 inches wide. The chain is strung with dyed multi-colored freshwater cultured pearls and measures 23 inches long. It secures with a lobster clasp.

For a bit of bright orange, check out the carnelian, garnet and orange sapphire necklace, hanging from a 20-inch sterling silver and 18K vermeil chain. At the center of the necklace is the pendant - a semi-round carved orange carnelian, a garnet and an orange sapphire, all in claw settings. This pendant hangs from a strand of round cut carnelian beads.

Gem Treasures

You will recognize this collection for its multi-strand necklaces made with hand-selected exotic gems. Start with your choice of a 24-inch rose or smoky quartz necklace, both set on sterling silver. It features various round faceted and oval fancy cut stones in your choice of rose quartz or smoky quartz. The rose is a soft baby pink color and the smoky quartz is a deep, rich brown. The three strands of quartz secure with a lobster claw clasp.

Want to reflect the colors of the sun? Try the Shades of Fire Opal necklace, strung on an 18-inch sterling silver chain.

The 165 round beads are arranged by the depth of their color. The total fire opal weight is approximately 52.64ct. It secures with a magnetic clasp.

Belita Brilliante

Love the look of platinum? You will love this collection's platinum-embraced 16 inch or 18 inch bezel set tennis necklace. It is one luscious row of sparkles that come from the simulated diamonds set in platinum-embraced sterling silver. The bezel setting offers a more contemporary look to this classic style. The necklace fastens with a box clasp with a safety catch.

For a simpler look, check out the platinum-embraced 24-inch station necklace. Again, made with platinum-embraced sterling silver, the necklace is a cable chain with six stations. At each station is a solitary round simulated diamond in a bezel setting. It fastens with a spring ring clasp.

Sweet Romance

This collection knows all about soft romantic looks that harken back to the 1930 and 1940s. Start with a Victorian-inspired Paris shadow box necklace that contains a nod to the famous Eiffel Tower. It measures 21 inches long plus a 4-inch drop. Even if you have never been to Paris, you will love the feelings of romance stirred up by this necklace. The textured gold tone chain features a pendant with an image of the Eiffel Tower and the word "Souvenir de Paris" in the background. On the front of the shadow box are flower sprigs with crystals and glass pearls. Atop the pendant is a small fleur-de-lis. It is rich with detail. Altogether, the necklace contains 60 different crystals in a bezel setting.

Another romantic necklace from Sweet Romance is the 22-inch Tudor-inspired intaglio necklace with a "reverse" cameo etched in one of several charms hanging from the necklace. You have a choice of a blue or smoky cameo. The other charms include a key and glass charms. They hang from a gloved hand charm that attaches to the 22-inch gold-tone necklace. This interesting necklace - a blend of Tudor and the Renaissance - will be a real conversation starter.

Far East Market

If you think of pearls when you hear the words "Far East," you are right on target. One of the best sellers in this collection is the pink freshwater cultured pearl necklace. The 18-inch strand includes 39 round 11mm to 12mm pink freshwater cultured pearls. It is secured by a fish hook clasp with a catch guard.

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Australian Opal Ring - Learn How to Select a Quality Gemstone

 Australian Opal Rings have a attraction that most love and admire. These exquisite opals are found in the Australian Outback which is quite rough and has extreme weather conditions. These conditions have guarded Australia's sublime opals and have nurtured them to become even more beautiful as if they were created and made with an unimaginable power. Australia is number one source for opals and other opal jewelries because of their abundance in the Australian Outback.

There are actually opals that are commonly found in dry areas . However, these opals do not have the fire and the beauty precious Australian opals possess which is why they are sold at a much lower price or they are made into doublets and triplets. Precious opals are found in dry areas where there is limited or no water supply. These conditions actually make it harder to find the opals and it will also make the opals found more expensive than other common opals.

Many people are interested in opal jewelry. Australian opal rings are really popular to buyers nowadays since they cater to men and women. Unlike other Australian opal jewelry, Australian opal rings actually have fewer complex designs and are more of simplistic and classic so that the beauty of the opals stand out.

The popular gemstone choice for men when it comes to Australian opal rings are the black opals. These opals are set on either gold or silver rings and are very masculine and impressive to look at. The contrast between the metal and the black opal makes the opal stand out and emit a certain fire that makes the wearer more powerful yet peaceful to look at.

On the other hand, a popular choice for women when it comes to Australian opal rings are the opals which are inlaid in thin metal and are adorned with diamonds. This type of ring makes the opal stand out against a sparkling white frame making it look like its glowing. Most women look for these types of Australian opal rings because of its sophisticated beauty.

There are also opal rings that are being sold at a lower price compared to the precious opals. These opal rings are doublets or even triplets. Doublets make use of thin slices of precious opal. These thin slices of opal are sandwiched in ironstone which makes it look like a solid piece of black opal. Doublets are being sold in a much lower price than precious opals since fewer opals are used. Triplets are pretty much like doublets but it makes use of three thin pieces of different kinds of opal. Triplets are also less expensive than doublets.

Taking proper care of your Australian opal rings is also very crucial since opals are brittle and they can get easily cracked once they lose their moisture. Wearing your Australian opal ring is actually a good way to retain its moisture. However, you should remove your opal ring before doing strenuous activity to avoid it from getting hit. Australian opal rings should also be placed away from heat and rapid temperature changes to avoid it from cracking.

Opals and Gems of Australia provides high quality Australian Opal Rings [http://www.opalsandgemsofaustralia.com/jewelry-rings-c-21_26.html] We have been in the Australian Opal business for over 30 years. Originally, Opals & Gems of Australia began as an Australian gem mining company in 1956, and has since then wholesaled, cut, and retailed opals and other exotic gemstones. Opals & Gems of Australia has over 50 years of long established relationships with miners, cutters, and manufacturers allowing us to buy directly from these sources and cherry pick the finest gems available at the best prices.

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Opal Stone Benefits - The Spiritual and Healing Stone

 Opal stone is the most vibrant of all semi precious stones. Iridescent colors of opal stone changes with the change in angle of viewing. This is known as opalescence. Also this is considered as one of the most spiritual and mystical stones. It can bring some major changes in your life by changing your perspective towards life. Value of opal is determined by distribution of colors.

Considering the astrological aspect then this semiprecious stone is worn to strengthen the Venus. Venus represents sex, love, marriage, romance, emotions, fine arts, movie and artistic skills.

People whose birthstone is opal are very gentle and calm personalities. This semi precious stone will make you more spontaneous and quick in communication. Fire opal can awaken your inner passion and really protects you from incoming danger.

In jewelry making flawless stone having bright luster is used. Dark colored stones are expensive than the lighter color stones. Black opal is the rarest and the most expensive of all.

Opal Stone Benefits

Opal adds charm to your personality and problems in your love life will be improved.

It adds positive energy in the wearer.

Opal changes its color with situation. In case of severe illness or accident the color changes to sickly yellow. Through this you can also see minor illness as the color changes to dull and grey.

Black opal is good for reproductive organs, pancreas, spleen, bone marrow and depression.

White opal is beneficial in balancing the right and left hemispheres of brain. This thus provides the neuro stability.

Blue opal is for calmness and serenity. By wearing this you can relate yourself to nature for calmness. It also helps you to move on and helps in disconnecting from past.

Green opal is worn to clean aura. It really rejuvenates you personally as well as emotionally. It makes your life meaningful.

Pink colored stone cures headache and makes you a grounded personality.

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Be Mystified With a Black Opal Ring!

 In a nut shell, the black opal ring is a symbol of elegance and mystique. There are a lot of things that have caught the attention of a lot people when it comes to these stones. One is that the beautiful colors that can be seen in each opal. Beneath its dark exterior lies a beauty like no other, and only a true jewel lover can appreciate these features. And for any occasion, even for an engagement ring, these precious stones can be the best gift choice.

You have to admit, black opals are very interesting jewelry pieces. Its enigmatic form and soft texture makes for a great ring centerpiece. A black stone with a bedazzling array of colors beneath the shiny exterior and you'll only keep wondering what these black opals are exactly. And where better to put these objects than on a ring right? These days, black opal rings have become very popular when it comes to gift choices, particularly for engagements.

So if you're deciding on what ring to go with on your engagement, why not try a black opal ring? Diamonds are great, but this can be a lot better. Rather than going with the conventional rings that people go for, why not go with these black beauties? Not only is it a unique choice, these rings are also quite cheaper than your typical diamond rings.

And think about the message that you'll be sending to your loved one with these extraordinary jewelry pieces. It isn't everyday that this type of ring gets to be given away for engagements. The stone on this ring will represent that love that, like the colors found in each stone, grows deeper and deeper. It's the perfect engagement ring!

So for your ring choices, whether for an engagement or as a gift, you can't go wrong with a black opal ring.

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The Black Opal - Simply Magnificent

 Opals and black opal jewelry have been adored since antiquity. The Roman Pliny talks often about the magnificence of opals, and later even the great William Shakespeare had his characters discuss them. They were talking about opals and in those days the Australian black opal hadn't even been found. But today the black opal is a symbol of beauty in nature.

When people around the world talk about the magnificence of opal they are almost always talking about Australian black opal.

What are we talking about when we mean black opal? Without discussing crystalline structures and all that gemology jargon let's just think about how it compares with other types. When you look at a black opal you will see that it has a black or very dark base. It is just as if you had a glass of black paint. That's the black base that I am talking about.

Then you put in some bright colored pieces of plastic. Let's say you put in some blues and some reds and some yellows. Now we are talking about the color. Let's say you just put blues and greens in the black mix. In opalspeak we would call that blue/green on black. If the green color was the dominant color we would change it around and call it green/blue on black.

So is there one color in the black opal range which is the best and the most expensive? Yes, yes and definitely yes! When my mining partner used to tell me on the phone that today he had found some red on black then I would just say Oh my God! That meant we had sure money.

That's the top end of the opal market, red on black and it comes from almost only one place on earth the Lightning Ridge area of NSW, Australia. But any color on black is likely to fetch big bucks! As the black base gets lighter we start to decide whether we can still call it black. A dark gray stone will still often be called black but as it gets lighter we say it is for instance, blue on gray, and then when the gray and the blue start to get confused we say it is blue/gray.

Australian black opal is recognized as being the very best opal in the world and with good reason, but it is rare and becoming rarer.

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Black Opal Pendant - Rare And Beautiful

 The Black Opal Stone is the rarest stone which is found on the earth, the black opal pendant are very costly, and they are used to make pendent and other forms of jewelry. This gemstone looks very beautiful with all the glittering and royalty. A person who wears this jewelry looks more posh. These precious stones are found in Australia. The Black Opal Pendant is the wide choice of many customers around the world; these stones have the characteristics of color changing. When we look at these stones from different angles, these stones can change the color.

You may wonder how an opal is formed; these are formed by silica gel many million years back. The Black Opal Pendant is the most common preferred jewelry around the world, the black opal pendent suits with all types of attire. The most amazing fact about this precious stone is that, it is made of vast water a particle which makes these stones rare. These stones are obtained by mining. There are many mining companies in Australia, who are in the business of mining for these stones.

These substances are not very soft like the diamonds. The opal jewelry is usually worn with the chain, usually women wear these pendants. The stones are easy to melt and can be fitted with any pendants of various shapes. The rice range of these stones starts from $ 50 and goes up to $3000 depending up on the weight. The Black Opal Pendants have many characteristics, when compared with other precious stones. This pendant is made with silver or gold and is in the form of a chain which has many colors that can reflect through the stones.

The designs are breathtaking, which is handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. Some people wear this Black Opal Pendant as per the instruction of an astrologer or for style. There are numerous designs available in the store, and you can buy or order your own Black Opal Pendant as per you specification. There are websites, which have auctions, all you need to do is to register and bid for your favorite. The color of the stones is very soothing to you eyes. The Black Opal Pendant can be worn with all traditional and western dress styles.

The most amazing offer for the customers is 30-day money back offer, which is provided by the dealers. This stunning gemstone pendants can also be given as a gift to your loved ones. These pendants sparkle in nature; these stones can also be worn for treatment of certain skin problems. The best way to preserve your jewelry is to keep clean. To clean it is to wipe with tissue paper or by using a silk cloth. It is not recommended to use chemicals another solutions.You can even clean these stones with the help of warm water.

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The Beauty of an Opal Bracelet

 A day stunning and value to addition to any respectable collection of jewelry is an opal bracelet. Opals are incredibly colorful, but you must know how to properly care for them if you want to maintain that stunning beauty. There are many things to remember about the opal bracelet.

Opals are varied unique because they are cut in a different fashion and other precious gems. When opals are mined, the miners themselves take extraordinary care when handling the beautiful stones. This adds their beauty and their value.

The stones of an opal bracelet are both vibrant and radiant in their color, with a different sort of color combination if they are black opals or white opals. Either the opal is do fantastic things when playing off the light. The color itself radiates from moisture that is trapped within the stone.

The stones of an opal bracelet are polished in such a way that they do do not usually crack for their protection. It for some tragic reason they were to contact the color would slowly fade right out of them and your bracelet with the will no longer.

An opal bracelet can have as few as one opal or as many as twenty, depending on the style and size. Remember to treat your opal with great care because they are rather fragile gems. You should limit your time for wearing an opal bracelet because even the natural oils from your skin can damage them. Wearing the opal bracelet for special occasions and the like is fine, as long as you do not forget you are wearing it.

Nor should they be immersed in any sort of liquids because that also tends to damage the opals. When you are finished wearing your opal bracelet for the evening, it is smart to let it air out and dry.

If the opal somehow does become dirty you want to clean it immediately. To take a toothbrush and cup of water to it might damage it, even though this method works well with other pieces of jewelry.

You also may want to look into specially produced jewelry cleaners that are made specifically to treat the precious gems that are contained in your opal bracelet. If you are worried about cleaning your bracelet, you might want to take it to a professional jewelry maker and ask them about cleaning your bracelet. This way you know it will be cleaned right, without damage done to your bracelet.

Using only a few steps, it is easy to care for your opal bracelet. As long as they remain flawless, you will have a beautiful and valuable heirloom to pass down for hundreds, if not thousands of years to come.

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October Means Opals!

The month of October is full of many wonderful things. Fall is starting to really get into swing. The end of the month brings about numerous holidays that celebrate the culturally unanimous time of year when spirits can come back to earth whether for positive or negative reasons-Halloween, Samhain, La Dia de los Muertos. It also is a very lovely month to associate with a birthday since harvest festivals and outdoor gatherings abound in attempt to enjoy the last bit of warm and sunny weather before things start their quick decent into the clouds and cold associated with late fall and winter and because of October's birthstone. The uniqueness of this month is epitomized by its relation to the October birthstone of the Opal Earrings since the mysterious gem that comes in a variety of shades and colors portrayed in a milky yet shimmering sheen is special as well.

Birthday gift ideas of opal jewelry for those born in October are always a great hit since opals have a unparalleled opulence about them, and opal jewelry in general are perfect accessories when trying to show off your personal style and class if you want a special gift just for yourself! Opal earrings are always the first thing to come to the minds of fashion focused individuals since the gem itself with its commonly rounded or oval shapes are ideal for earrings-especially studs of small, medium, or even larger sizes. They help to frame the face in a way that adds a delicate sheen more than a bold glitter and color changing tints with different angles and light. The natural or at least easily created round shapes also mean that opal rings are a big fashion hit.

An opal ring worn as a fashion adornment really looks good on a person's thumb or index finger since this gem can be large in size without having to completely drain your wallet and life savings at the same time. You should not underestimate other opal jewelry pieces though. Opal pendants (whether on a gold or silver chain) look great when you are going for a more business casual look as it can bejewel your outfit without overdoing it. When looking for something to go on your wrist, opal bracelets are beautiful particularly when they are composed as a linked chain series of opals. Just have fun looking for these special pieces of jewelry!

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On Trend Necklaces for Spring

 If you are looking for the trendy opal necklaces for the spring, a good place to start your search is with the different jewelry collections. You will discover what's new with the individual designers and you will discover some common themes - aka trends.

Gems en Vogue II

It's no surprise that gems are at the heart of this collection - beautiful pastels blended into one gorgeous dragonfly necklace and bright colors standing on their own. The multi-gemstone Dragonfly & Cultured Spice Pearl necklace is a mixture of gems and cultured pearls strung on a pearlescent lilac strand. The wings of the dragonfly pendant combine apatite stones, dark pink sapphires, rubies, iolites, tanzanites, amethysts and pink quartz. All gemstones are in claw and bead settings. The pendant is just under 2 inches long and just over 2 inches wide. The chain is strung with dyed multi-colored freshwater cultured pearls and measures 23 inches long. It secures with a lobster clasp.

For a bit of bright orange, check out the carnelian, garnet and orange sapphire necklace, hanging from a 20-inch sterling silver and 18K vermeil chain. At the center of the necklace is the pendant - a semi-round carved orange carnelian, a garnet and an orange sapphire, all in claw settings. This pendant hangs from a strand of round cut carnelian beads.

Gem Treasures

You will recognize this collection for its multi-strand necklaces made with hand-selected exotic gems. Start with your choice of a 24-inch rose or smoky quartz necklace, both set on sterling silver. It features various round faceted and oval fancy cut stones in your choice of rose quartz or smoky quartz. The rose is a soft baby pink color and the smoky quartz is a deep, rich brown. The three strands of quartz secure with a lobster claw clasp.

Want to reflect the colors of the sun? Try the Shades of Fire Opal necklace, strung on an 18-inch sterling silver chain.

The 165 round beads are arranged by the depth of their color. The total fire opal weight is approximately 52.64ct. It secures with a magnetic clasp.

Belita Brilliante

Love the look of platinum? You will love this collection's platinum-embraced 16 inch or 18 inch bezel set tennis necklace. It is one luscious row of sparkles that come from the simulated diamonds set in platinum-embraced sterling silver. The bezel setting offers a more contemporary look to this classic style. The necklace fastens with a box clasp with a safety catch.

For a simpler look, check out the platinum-embraced 24-inch station necklace. Again, made with platinum-embraced sterling silver, the necklace is a cable chain with six stations. At each station is a solitary round simulated diamond in a bezel setting. It fastens with a spring ring clasp.

Sweet Romance

This collection knows all about soft romantic looks that harken back to the 1930 and 1940s. Start with a Victorian-inspired Paris shadow box necklace that contains a nod to the famous Eiffel Tower. It measures 21 inches long plus a 4-inch drop. Even if you have never been to Paris, you will love the feelings of romance stirred up by this necklace. The textured gold tone chain features a pendant with an image of the Eiffel Tower and the word "Souvenir de Paris" in the background. On the front of the shadow box are flower sprigs with crystals and glass pearls. Atop the pendant is a small fleur-de-lis. It is rich with detail. Altogether, the necklace contains 60 different crystals in a bezel setting.

Another romantic necklace from Sweet Romance is the 22-inch Tudor-inspired intaglio necklace with a "reverse" cameo etched in one of several charms hanging from the necklace. You have a choice of a blue or smoky cameo. The other charms include a key and glass charms. They hang from a gloved hand charm that attaches to the 22-inch gold-tone necklace. This interesting necklace - a blend of Tudor and the Renaissance - will be a real conversation starter.

Far East Market

If you think of pearls when you hear the words "Far East," you are right on target. One of the best sellers in this collection is the pink freshwater cultured pearl necklace. The 18-inch strand includes 39 round 11mm to 12mm pink freshwater cultured pearls. It is secured by a fish hook clasp with a catch guard.

If you prefer something other than pearls, consider a 24-inch hematite and carved onyx "Year of the Dragon" necklace in honor of 2012. The dragon, a symbol of power, strength, protection and wisdom in Chinese culture, is painted in gold-toned enamel on each one of the 10 round black onyx beads. Interspersed between the onyx beads are 33 dark gray hematite beads. The beads are individually knotted. A magnetic clasp, made of sterling silver and plated with 18K yellow gold, secures the beads. This beautiful piece comes with its own jewelry pouch.

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Finding the Perfect Opal Ring

 Opal rings have been famous throughout history for their amazing display of colors and brilliant patterns. Many cultures in the ancient world regarded them as luxurious charms of fortune and good tidings. Even to this day, opal rings are highly desired for their unique beauty and elegance. This kind of jewelry is perfect for gifts since each opal is natural, rare, and unique. If you're looking for one, you're bound to be curious as to how to find the one that's perfect for your needs, budget, and tastes. Here are a few things to keep in mind in your quest for a perfect opal ring.

Finding the perfect opal ring depends on finding a high quality stone to use as the centerpiece. Opals are graded on four primary attributes: their patterns, colors, shape, and clarity.

Each opal ring has its own distinct patterns of swirling colors hidden within the stone and released when exposed to light. While the particular pattern that looks best to you is up to your own tastes, there is one thing that you should be looking for regardless, and that is brilliance. High quality opal rings will have patterns that are bold, brilliant, and beautiful. If the pattern seems weak, the ring will not be as good as it could be.

Many people feel that the more colors there are represented in an opal ring, the better the jewelry is. This is not necessarily true, however. Many of the best models only show two colors, but show them strongly. If the person you intend to buy the opal ring for has a favorite color, try to make sure that this is represented both richly and boldly.

The best opal rings have centerpieces which are dome shaped. This provides much more brilliance than a flat cut stone. Flat cuts are better used as inlays to accentuate the center of the ring than as the centerpiece themselves.

The clarity of an opal ring is absolutely crucial. Small sand particles often get stuck in opal stones, and if they are big enough they can mar the surface or interior of the stone. This will absolutely ruin the overall aesthetic of the ring, and detract from its value.

The perfect opal ring will also have a fantastic setting. The most popular choices for this are gold and white gold. This depends on the colors of the opal, so it must be decided on a case by case basis. As a general rule of thumb, offsetting the color of the band material with the color of the opal will draw more attention to the ring, helping it to stand out and be noticed. For instance, it's more common to see black opal rings with white gold.

In the end, finding the perfect opal ring is all about perseverance and knowledge. Knowing how to choose a high quality opal will get you most of the way there, but you still need to put forth the effort to discover it. Don't lose heart, and never settle for anything short of perfection!

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How to Choose the Perfect Opal Rings

 Opal rings are one of the most flamboyant forms of Blue opal rings. They have been prized down the ages for their breathtaking opalescence and dramatic range of color flashes. They have been considered lucky charms capable of bestowing many powers on the wearer including beauty, success and happiness as well as the powers of prophecy and foresight. And they symbolize hope and purity too. But it is their beauty, which makes opal rings perfect gifts.

When looking for the best opal ring you first need to focus on finding the ideal gemstone for the centerpiece. This can be quite difficult because there are a wide range of gemstone types but whether you choose a black, white, boulder, fire, jelly or any other opal, the most important thing to look for is the brilliance of the internal fire.

Like diamonds, opals are graded four ways according to their pattern, colors, shape and clarity. Apart from clarity, which must be good, these gradings are essentially descriptive classifications which can be interpreted subjectively. After all everyone will pick a different shape stone with different colors and patterns of opalescence for their favorite! But the best opals all have strong and striking plays of color. Gemstones with poor clarity and weak color plays do not make attractive rings.

Some opals exhibit a wide range of colors including blues, greens, purples and flashes of orange red and pink. And although many people believe that the best gemstones have the widest range of color play, this is again very subjective. It is the strength and vibrancy of the colors that makes a good opal. This means that you might prefer a gemstone with a bold blue and green color play to one which has a lot of colors but no life to it.

And if you are choosing an opal ring for someone else, say for an engagement ring, try to choose a gemstone which incorporates their favourite colors in its color play.

The best opal rings have high domed cabochon gemstones at their centers to maximise the color and make the most of its clarity. Superb clarity is important because any included sand particles can ruin the opalescence of the gemstone and with it, the appearance of the ring.

Once you have found your perfect opal, make sure it is set beautifully into a quality precious metal setting. The ring will look best if you choose a metal color matching the gemstone base color. Black opal rings always look best when made from white gold, silver or platinum but white and boulder opals can look wonderful in white or yellow metal depending upon the color plays within the gemstone itself.

Finding the perfect opal for your ring can take a lot of effort. However, the end result is worth it!

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Opal Engagement Rings - Is an Opal Ring Perfect For You?

 Australian opal rings is some of the most exotic and eye catching jewelry you can wear. Opals flash with the colors of the rainbow trapped within a silica gemstone. The most valuable black opals appear as angry storm clouds passing behind a rain washed rainbow. No two opals are the same. The color play of each is totally unique. They are beautiful, porous, fragile, highly prized and steeped in myth and legend. They make stunning engagement rings. But is an opal engagement ring right for you?

After all, opals are unlucky unless they are your birthstone, right?

Not at all! Opals are the birthstone of October and the zodiac stone of Libra, and yet they are enjoyed, admired and worn by people with birthdays throughout the year without any apparent extra bad luck befalling them! So how did this myth arise?

Like all good stories, it started a long time ago, and in Europe.

Opals have been prized throughout time for their beauty and rarity and the late 19th century Europeans were no exception! The European opal market at that time was supplied by Hungary, although some also came from further afield in India and the Middle East. But all that changed in 1890 when a new supply of significantly better opals was discovered. These were Australian opals and the like of their fiery opalescence had never been seen before! To protect their market, the Hungarians claimed the new opals were fakes.

Sir Walter Scott, like all good writers, drew on the confused panic of the day. He wrote in a novel that opals brought bad luck to people not born in October. The cursed myth was born, and the European opal market spiraled into near destruction. Near disaster was only averted when Queen Victoria herself intervened by giving gifts of opal jewelry at a Royal wedding!

Today the cursed myth may have passed into legend, but the beauty of Australian opals remains for all to see. Black opals and the best white opals have significant fire and enough play of color to hold their own even when set alongside diamonds.

Opals are much softer than diamonds though, and so they should set so that the gemstone is protected from chips and scratches. Bezel settings are popular for this reason. They should be cleaned gently in plain water, and definitely not in the harsh chemical cleaners suited to diamonds!

Opals make sensational jewelry. And if you are looking for a staggeringly beautiful and totally unique engagement ring with a mythical antique feel, an opal ring could be perfect for you.

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The Story Behind Today's Appeal of Opal Engagement Rings

 Opal is known for black opal engagement rings because it has the ability to make colors appear and disappear and also because it is known during the ancient times to have magical properties. It has been regarded by the Greeks to be prophetic. According to a legend, Roman Senator Nonius opted for an exile rather than giving his opal ring to Mark Anthony, who wanted the ring to be a gift to Cleopatra.

In the 18th century, opal has been considered to bring bad luck. This started when King Alfonso XII of Spain gave an opal ring to her wife who later died. The ring was passed to family members who also died, including the King himself. According to some, it was because of the cholera epidemic while some credit the mysterious deaths to the bad luck derived from opal.

Opal is known for its colors which are exotic and also exciting. It is said that no two opals are similar in terms of color. Although the more contemporary time has already withdrawn from the superstitious belief, there are still some who choose to stay with such superstition while majority has already regarded opal to bring fortune.

Trying to veer away from the traditional diamond rings, opal is now considered by many couples for their engagement rings. Opals are soft which requires them to have a hard setting to provide protection and to allow them to show their inner fire. Bezel setting, pronged setting, and laid setting, bezel being the most common, are the most popular settings which are made for opal engagement rings.

Black and white opals are famous for their amazing showcase of colors. It is a significant fire inside and it significant plays with colors making theme even a better choice for some as against the traditional diamond engagement ring. However, because opals are softer compared to diamonds, these stones require more caution from the wearer to avoid being chipped or scratched. Only plain water should be used for cleaning purposes.

An opal ring is the perfect engagement ring of choice if you are looking for something which is antique and magical by appearance. The fiery white opal and the Australian black opal are just some of the popular choices for opal engagement rings.

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Why Australian Opals Are the Best in the World

Australian opals are blessed with an unusual, iridescent beauty and none more so than those found in Australia. As the primary source of this sumptuous gemstone where around 95 percent of the worlds bounty is found, the Australian outback provides the perfect harsh, dry conditions in which opals thrive. While there are many mining towns throughout the country, the four main ones are Andamooka, Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs.

Not only are the finest opals found in Australia, but the best cutters are also located here; an essential factor in calculating their quality and ultimate worth. Other ingredients which go into determining the value of the stone are the colour play, brilliance, body tone, faults and the class of opal. Single opals are considerably more expensive than doublets or triplets which are an assembled stone which are only a small part natural opal.

Body tone refers to the shade of the opal which ranges from black through to white. The darker hues are more sought after and consequently dearer because the colour play of opals shows up better against these backgrounds. Black opals are the rarest of all, making them even more precious.

This "play of colour" is what makes opals so appealing and the better this appears the more valuable the stone tends to be. It is caused by diffraction of light through the different shaped spheres of silica, of which the opal is made up. For example light passing through the larger spheres may appear red, while that passing along the smaller spheres could seem blue or green.

Derived from the Greek word "opallos" meaning "optical change", the opal is classified as an amorphous non-crystalline gem mineral. It is made up of liquid silica deposits formed by decayed vegetation and creatures. It is not a particularly hard gemstone with only a hardness rating of between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale (diamonds are a 10) and should be kept away from oil and ultrasonic cleaners.

Consisting of up to 10 percent water, opals welcome the opportunity to be worn as they need to take moisture from the environment in order to stay hydrated. For a mesmerising, unforgettable item of jewellery, choose Australian opals.

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The Beauty of an Opal Bracelet

 A day stunning and value to addition to any respectable collection of jewelry is an opal bracelet. Opals are incredibly colorful, but you must know how to properly care for them if you want to maintain that stunning beauty. There are many things to remember about the opal bracelet.

Opals are varied unique because they are cut in a different fashion and other precious gems. When opals are mined, the miners themselves take extraordinary care when handling the beautiful stones. This adds their beauty and their value.

The stones of an opal bracelet are both vibrant and radiant in their color, with a different sort of color combination if they are black opals or white opals. Either the opal is do fantastic things when playing off the light. The color itself radiates from moisture that is trapped within the stone.

The stones of an opal bracelet are polished in such a way that they do do not usually crack for their protection. It for some tragic reason they were to contact the color would slowly fade right out of them and your bracelet with the will no longer.

An opal bracelet can have as few as one opal or as many as twenty, depending on the style and size. Remember to treat your opal with great care because they are rather fragile gems. You should limit your time for wearing an opal bracelet because even the natural oils from your skin can damage them. Wearing the opal bracelet for special occasions and the like is fine, as long as you do not forget you are wearing it.

Nor should they be immersed in any sort of liquids because that also tends to damage the opals. When you are finished wearing your opal bracelet for the evening, it is smart to let it air out and dry.

If the opal somehow does become dirty you want to clean it immediately. To take a toothbrush and cup of water to it might damage it, even though this method works well with other pieces of jewelry.

You also may want to look into specially produced jewelry cleaners that are made specifically to treat the precious gems that are contained in your opal bracelet. If you are worried about cleaning your bracelet, you might want to take it to a professional jewelry maker and ask them about cleaning your bracelet. This way you know it will be cleaned right, without damage done to your bracelet.

Using only a few steps, it is easy to care for your opal bracelet. As long as they remain flawless, you will have a beautiful and valuable heirloom to pass down for hundreds, if not thousands of years to come

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Why 14k Gold Opal Earrings Are A Great Choice

 Whether you are shopping for a gift for the holidays, or you are just looking for a way to dress up an particular outfit, don't neglect the choices that are offered when you are looking for 14k gold opal earrings. If you are looking for a gemstone-metal combination that really pops, look no further than this unique combination. People have always loved the ever-changing, mercurial look of this gems, and of course gold has been a valuable commodity since time immemorial, but you'll find that ancient history aside, you'll always be able to get a great look out of this particular mix of bright colors and conservative setting.

This precious metal is an excellent choice when it comes to deciding what you want in an earring setting. The use of gold when you are speaking of earrings is a good one; although it is soft, people are less likely to have an allergy to it than to nickel. Many earring posts are made from a nickel alloy of some sort, causing people who are overly sensitive to get hives, and you'll find that using this valuable metal prevents this. Similarly, the use of 14k gold is a great choice because it tends to be firmer and less likely to get bent out of shape than that of 24k, which is purer. Just make sure that you know what has been used to alloy this material.

Opals, rather are than being a stone, exactly, are considered mineraloids; despite being quite solid, they have a high percentage of water in them, which results in them gaining a beautiful shine and a deep and vibrant variety of colors that can appear. You'll find that most of this stones are never faceted; they are usually cut into cabuchons and polished, lending them a uniquely sleek and perfectly smooth look which is highly prized. You can find opals in a wide variety of colors and often they are selected based on what colors they most often reflect. For instance, white opals are fairly white and opaque, while black opals and fire opals show offer a darker, yet no less brilliant spectrum. This gemstones are known for being delicate gems and do well when secured by a firm setting.

When you are looking for earrings, 14k gold opal earrings are a great choice. If you're looking for something somewhat innocent or charming, look into the white opal, whereas if you are looking for something that will pop a little more, check out what you can find in terms of fire opal. In any case, jewelry of this sort will always make a statement, so keep an eye out for the right pieces for your own collection.

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On Trend Necklaces for Spring

 If you are looking for the trendy opal necklaces for the spring, a good place to start your search is with the different jewelry collections. You will discover what's new with the individual designers and you will discover some common themes - aka trends.

Gems en Vogue II

It's no surprise that gems are at the heart of this collection - beautiful pastels blended into one gorgeous dragonfly necklace and bright colors standing on their own. The multi-gemstone Dragonfly & Cultured Spice Pearl necklace is a mixture of gems and cultured pearls strung on a pearlescent lilac strand. The wings of the dragonfly pendant combine apatite stones, dark pink sapphires, rubies, iolites, tanzanites, amethysts and pink quartz. All gemstones are in claw and bead settings. The pendant is just under 2 inches long and just over 2 inches wide. The chain is strung with dyed multi-colored freshwater cultured pearls and measures 23 inches long. It secures with a lobster clasp.

For a bit of bright orange, check out the carnelian, garnet and orange sapphire necklace, hanging from a 20-inch sterling silver and 18K vermeil chain. At the center of the necklace is the pendant - a semi-round carved orange carnelian, a garnet and an orange sapphire, all in claw settings. This pendant hangs from a strand of round cut carnelian beads.

Gem Treasures

You will recognize this collection for its multi-strand necklaces made with hand-selected exotic gems. Start with your choice of a 24-inch rose or smoky quartz necklace, both set on sterling silver. It features various round faceted and oval fancy cut stones in your choice of rose quartz or smoky quartz. The rose is a soft baby pink color and the smoky quartz is a deep, rich brown. The three strands of quartz secure with a lobster claw clasp.

Want to reflect the colors of the sun? Try the Shades of Fire Opal necklace, strung on an 18-inch sterling silver chain.

The 165 round beads are arranged by the depth of their color. The total fire opal weight is approximately 52.64ct. It secures with a magnetic clasp.

Belita Brilliante

Love the look of platinum? You will love this collection's platinum-embraced 16 inch or 18 inch bezel set tennis necklace. It is one luscious row of sparkles that come from the simulated diamonds set in platinum-embraced sterling silver. The bezel setting offers a more contemporary look to this classic style. The necklace fastens with a box clasp with a safety catch.

For a simpler look, check out the platinum-embraced 24-inch station necklace. Again, made with platinum-embraced sterling silver, the necklace is a cable chain with six stations. At each station is a solitary round simulated diamond in a bezel setting. It fastens with a spring ring clasp.

Sweet Romance

This collection knows all about soft romantic looks that harken back to the 1930 and 1940s. Start with a Victorian-inspired Paris shadow box necklace that contains a nod to the famous Eiffel Tower. It measures 21 inches long plus a 4-inch drop. Even if you have never been to Paris, you will love the feelings of romance stirred up by this necklace. The textured gold tone chain features a pendant with an image of the Eiffel Tower and the word "Souvenir de Paris" in the background. On the front of the shadow box are flower sprigs with crystals and glass pearls. Atop the pendant is a small fleur-de-lis. It is rich with detail. Altogether, the necklace contains 60 different crystals in a bezel setting.

Another romantic necklace from Sweet Romance is the 22-inch Tudor-inspired intaglio necklace with a "reverse" cameo etched in one of several charms hanging from the necklace. You have a choice of a blue or smoky cameo. The other charms include a key and glass charms. They hang from a gloved hand charm that attaches to the 22-inch gold-tone necklace. This interesting necklace - a blend of Tudor and the Renaissance - will be a real conversation starter.

Far East Market

If you think of pearls when you hear the words "Far East," you are right on target. One of the best sellers in this collection is the pink freshwater cultured pearl necklace. The 18-inch strand includes 39 round 11mm to 12mm pink freshwater cultured pearls. It is secured by a fish hook clasp with a catch guard.

If you prefer something other than pearls, consider a 24-inch hematite and carved onyx "Year of the Dragon" necklace in honor of 2012. The dragon, a symbol of power, strength, protection and wisdom in Chinese culture, is painted in gold-toned enamel on each one of the 10 round black onyx beads. Interspersed between the onyx beads are 33 dark gray hematite beads. The beads are individually knotted. A magnetic clasp, made of sterling silver and plated with 18K yellow gold, secures the beads. This beautiful piece comes with its own jewelry pouch.

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Finding the Perfect Opal Ring

Opal rings have been famous throughout history for their amazing display of colors and brilliant patterns. Many cultures in the ancient world regarded them as luxurious charms of fortune and good tidings. Even to this day, opal rings are highly desired for their unique beauty and elegance. This kind of jewelry is perfect for gifts since each opal is natural, rare, and unique. If you're looking for one, you're bound to be curious as to how to find the one that's perfect for your needs, budget, and tastes. Here are a few things to keep in mind in your quest for a perfect opal ring.

Finding the perfect opal ring depends on finding a high quality stone to use as the centerpiece. Opals are graded on four primary attributes: their patterns, colors, shape, and clarity.

Each opal ring has its own distinct patterns of swirling colors hidden within the stone and released when exposed to light. While the particular pattern that looks best to you is up to your own tastes, there is one thing that you should be looking for regardless, and that is brilliance. High quality opal rings will have patterns that are bold, brilliant, and beautiful. If the pattern seems weak, the ring will not be as good as it could be.

Many people feel that the more colors there are represented in an opal ring, the better the jewelry is. This is not necessarily true, however. Many of the best models only show two colors, but show them strongly. If the person you intend to buy the opal ring for has a favorite color, try to make sure that this is represented both richly and boldly.

The best opal rings have centerpieces which are dome shaped. This provides much more brilliance than a flat cut stone. Flat cuts are better used as inlays to accentuate the center of the ring than as the centerpiece themselves.

The clarity of an opal ring is absolutely crucial. Small sand particles often get stuck in opal stones, and if they are big enough they can mar the surface or interior of the stone. This will absolutely ruin the overall aesthetic of the ring, and detract from its value.

The perfect opal ring will also have a fantastic setting. The most popular choices for this are gold and white gold. This depends on the colors of the opal, so it must be decided on a case by case basis. As a general rule of thumb, offsetting the color of the band material with the color of the opal will draw more attention to the ring, helping it to stand out and be noticed. For instance, it's more common to see black opal rings with white gold.

In the end, finding the perfect opal ring is all about perseverance and knowledge. Knowing how to choose a high quality opal will get you most of the way there, but you still need to put forth the effort to discover it. Don't lose heart, and never settle for anything short of perfection!

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