October Birthstone - Opal

Buying and Caring tips

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Tips for Buying Opal Jewelry

Prices for white opal range between $5 and $100 per carat for a one-carat stone. Black opal have a more specialized market because they are more of a rarity. These october birthstones are highly prized, with prices that range from $250 to $5,000 per carat. Solid opals are the most highly preferred stones but the play of color often is confined to thin layers of horizontally banded opal. Stones called doublets (a thin opal/clear quartz layer) or triplets (a colored back/opal/clear quartz layer) account for many of the opals we see today. Since opals are not very tough, it is best that ring stones or stones that will be making contact with solid objects be doublets or triplets. Some synthetic opal is available as both rough and cut stones and some laboratory made glass products have been fairly good opal substitutes.

Tips to take care of Opal Jewelry

Use a soft dry or damp cloth. Do not soak. Do not use mechanical cleaners. Avoid impacts, dry conditions, heat and chemicals. Opal is a soft gem and is easily prone to getting scratched when rubbed against harder substances. While storing , make sure it is kept in a separate enclosure. If it is set in sterling silver, do not use silver polish for cleaning the jewelry.

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