Opal Jewelry
1950s Dutch Romantic Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s British Vintage Opal Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Fire Opal, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s British Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Tanzanite, Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, Emerald, White Diamond, Vermeil, Yellow...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Tourmaline, Ruby, Pearl, Opal, Bronze, Gold Plate, Gold-filled
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Black Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Crystal, Opal, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Opal Jewelry
Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Sapphire, Peridot, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Fire Opal, Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Artisan Opal Jewelry
Opal, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, White Gold
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Opal Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Fire Opal, Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Opal Jewelry
Black Opal, Opal, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Victorian Opal Jewelry
Ruby, Opal, Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
2010s Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s English Art Nouveau Antique Opal Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, S...
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Tanzanite, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold, Gold-filled, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Czech Modern Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Victorian Opal Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
1970s British Vintage Opal Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Opal Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
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).