Opal rings are available in a huge range of styles from traditional Opal cluster rings set with Diamonds through to contemporary Opal rings with the gem being set in a modern style, both with and without other gems. Opal rings are valued according to the type of Opal used in the design as well as the precious metal that the ring is crafted in.

Opal Rings

Opal is a very special gem because every single Opal is absolutely unique, allowing for Opal ring designs to be one of a kind pieces. Many Opal types have very unusual natural patterns which can range from natural stripes to honeycomb patterns to church window patterns through to patterns resembling faces, letters and symbols. Due to the uniqueness of Opals and the many colours and natural patterns available, the Opal ring buyer can select a ring that expresses their own personal style.

Opal rings are often created using Opal 'triplets' or 'doublets' which are thin slices of high grade Opal sandwiched between crystal and a base rock such as Onyx. The black Onyx base emphasises the colour of the Opal slice while the crystal makes the gem appear larger than it actually is. Although these composite gems are very often visually appealing they have little value. Opal can also be grown artificially and this man made Opal is often used in Opal rings and is mistakenly sold as genuine Opal by other jewellers. We only ever use solid, natural Opals in our Opal ring designs and provide a written guarantee of this.

Australian Opal is most often used to create Opal rings as it is available in a huge range of colours and typically has lots of the colour flashes associated with Opal. The most widely used Australian Opal is white Opal found in the Coober Pedy mine as this has a milky white base with lots of bright colour flashes throughout the gem. The Andamooka Opal mine produces very high grade Opal which can look stunning when set into rings. This Opal mine produces both high grade black Opal and 'supergem' grade crystal Opal. The Mintabie Opal mine produces very fine grade white Opal and Black Opal and since the mine is now depleted, the Opal typically rises in value by 10% annually making a Mintabie Opal ring an excellent investment. The Lightning Ridge Opal mine is famous for producing very fine grade Black Opal which looks stunning when set into black Opal rings. Australia also produces a type of Opal called Boulder Opal. Boulder Opal is the name given to gem grade crystal Opal which is contained within an ironstone host rock. This type of Opal typically has very bright colour flashes in every colour of the rainbow and very unique natural patterns. Boulder Opal is particularly suitable for use in rings as it is a much tougher material than Opal.

Contemporary Opal Rings

Mexican Opal is most commonly known as Fire Opal however it is available in several Opal types. Fire Opal has an orange or yellow base with clear to opaque clarity and a bright internal 'fire' (a bright glow) and bright 'contra luz' colour flashes throughout the body of the Opal (rather than across the surface as in other Opal types). Mexican Opal can also be found in a milky white base Opal with opaque to clear clarity and bright contra luz colours throughout. Mexican Opal can also be found within a host rock similar to Australian Boulder Opal and this type of Opal is called Cantera Opal or Matrix Opal. Cantera Opals are typically found with colour flashes in primary colours however it can be found with pastel colours and these pastel Cantera Opals are very valuable.

Brazil produces some of the worlds finest Opal. Brazilian Opal is a very high grade crystal Opal with extremely bright colour flashes throughout.

Peruvian Opal is a very unique type of Opal which can be either a rich turquoise colour or a delicate baby pink. High grade Peruvian Opal is very rare and is almost never found without natural inclusions.

Ethiopian Opal is found in both a deep and rich chocolate colour with bright colour flashes across its surface as well as a high grade crystal Opal type with very bright internal colour flashes. Ethiopian crystal Opal is very similar to Mexican Fire Opal.

Other rare types of Opal are available and can include rare Matrix Opal found in the USA through to unique banded Seam Opal found in Honduras. We specialise in unique and rare Opal types and can create unique Opal rings for you in any Opal type.

Opals are a very soft gem which are suitable for certain Opal ring styles rather than others. Opals are suitable for setting into rubover or bezel style rings as this design protects the Opal from damage. Crystal Opals are suitable for use in Opal engagement rings and can provide a unique and contemporary alternative to traditional Diamond engagement rings. We can create bespoke Opal engagement rings to your specifications.

Opal Rings Online

An Opal ring handmade using solid Opal of gem grade will always be an excellent investment which will increase in value as fine grade Opal becomes increasingly scarce as Opal mines become depleted.

Caring for Opal Rings: Do not use harsh cleansers on your opal rings and do not clean opals with ultrasonic cleaners. Never rub oil on an opal, because although it makes the fire brighter it can damage the opal. We recommend you periodically soak opals in water to help them reabsorb lost moisture; if you are storing your Opal rings you should store them in a zip lock plastic bag with a moist cotton wool ball.

When buying Opal rings online or in a jewellery store you should always check the type of Opal you are buying, it's suitability for the Opal ring design, it's origin, it's carat weight and whether it is a solid Opal.

All of the Opal rings in our collection are one of a kind designs and are handmade in our studio. We buy all of our Opals directly from the Opal miners who mined them and we design each Opal ring around the Opal giving each a custom setting which will enhance the gem.

We can resize our Opal rings for you by request.

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