Opal Jewelry
Late 20th Century Australian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Morganite, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Crystal, Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
1960s Unknown Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
2010s American Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Opal Jewelry
Tanzanite, Opal, Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, Diamond, B...
20th Century Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Morganite, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold,...
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Blue Topaz, Rose Gold
1990s French Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Moonstone, Opal, Quartz, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1910s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Late 20th Century Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Emerald, Black Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Opal Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Opal, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...
1960s Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s British Art Nouveau Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 15k Gold
1970s American Egyptian Revival Vintage Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Yellow Gold
1930s French Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Artisan Opal Jewelry
Aquamarine, Morganite, Opal, Tourmaline, Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow...
20th Century Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Art Nouveau Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Fire Opal, Yellow Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Opal Jewelry
Opal, 22k Gold
1970s Art Deco Vintage Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, Peridot, Apatite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Opal Jewelry
Amazonite, Garnet, Opal, Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s German Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Crystal, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique and Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.
Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)
Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!
There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.
So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.
There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).