Opal Engagement Rings & Opal Rings

Opal engagement rings like all opal rings are truly magical because of the stone's unique coloring and iridescent color flashes. The opal, which comes mostly from Australia, is the traditional birthstone for October although the Tourmaline is considered an alternate option.

Out of all the other gemstones, opals are the most colorful with the finest quality stones (especially the Black Opal) being more valuable than even diamonds. There are two basic types of opals: precious opals which have that iridescent play of color when light hits the stone and common opals which don't.

As far as opal engagement rings go, they are beautiful but be aware that the opal is a softer stone than most gemstones rating between a 5.5 and 6.6 on the Mohs scale which means they are almost half the hardness of diamonds. This means that as a gemstone they're more delicate than most and may need a little more care and attention.

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If we were presented with a beautiful opal and tourmaline ring like this one then we would welcome the need for more care and attention. This is our all-time favorite opal engagement ring. Along with the center opal, it has emerald cut pink tourmalines to cover both October birthstones and the diamond accents and yellow gold setting really make this ring striking. It's so elegant and feminine and we would love to own one!

Another thing to consider when choosing opal engagement rings is the setting. It is important that you choose a ring that has a protective setting since the opal is a rather soft stone. This will help prevent chips and breaks and keep the stone pristine. As long as the opal is well protected by surrounding stones or metal you should be fine. Notice how the metal prongs protect each corner of the opal in the ring above and how the stone itself is well guarded by the tourmalines and diamonds. This is the type of setting that you should be looking for.

If you love opals and have your heart set on an opal engagement ring then go for it but keep a few things in mind. Opals can become brittle so if they are stored somewhere that is too dry or are exposed to heat for long periods of time they may show signs of cracking and their iridescence will pale.

The good news is that if they are worn on the skin (or as part of a ring) they will likely get sufficient moisture and humidity from the skin and air and survive quite well. And if the stone is part of an engagement ring that will likely be worn everyday for the rest of your life then you should have nothing to worry about in that regard.

Throughout time, the opal was thought to have great healing power. Legend also has it that this particular stone helps with depression and that a person who wears one will find true love. How perfect is that?

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