Opals are NOT fragile!

Opals are NOT Fragile

As someone who specializes in opals, I am in disbelief every time I read a blog or website description claiming that you need to be extra careful with your opal jewelry. 

 There are so many myths...

1. “Opals Crack in the Cold”

I’m here to tell you this is not true. I live in Wisconsin—also known as the frozen tundra. I wear opals all the time, including in winter. When worn on your person, opals retain body heat, preventing any drastic temperature shifts. Plus, if it’s extremely cold, you’ll likely be bundled up in a coat, hat, and gloves, which further protects your jewelry.

However, to further prove my point, I placed a sample of all four of my opal varieties—Australian, Ethiopian, Mexican, and Peruvian—into the freezer for a month. Then I took them out and quickly warmed them in my hands. They remained unchanged, with no cracks or blemishes whatsoever.

 2. “Opals Are Not Durable”

Another misconception is that opals are too delicate to wear daily. I’ve seen this one a lot. In reality, opals range from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While they aren’t as hard as diamonds (which score a 10), they are comparable to turquoise and moonstone. Would you hesitate to wear those gemstones everyday?

 3. “Opals Should Not Be Worn in Water”

I have worn opal jewelry for years and regularly wash my hands, swim in pools, and even scrub my bathtub while wearing an opal ring. I have never damaged an opal this way. Of course, I don’t immerse them in harsh chemicals, but that’s just common sense—you wouldn’t expose any jewelry or your skin to such substances, would you?

 4. “You Shouldn’t Sleep in an Opal Ring”

What???? Enough said.

 5. “Because they are so delicate you shouldn’t store them near your other gemstones”

Another myth suggests that storing an opal near a diamond will cause scratches. Not sure how this is a problem. Unless you are intentionally rubbing a diamond against the opal’s surface, this claim seems pretty silly. I'm not sure how storing them  together will  harm an opal. This photo is just a simulation, but you get the idea.

 6. “Avoid Gardening or Cleaning While Wearing an Opal Ring”

I garden and clean my house all the time while wearing opal rings, and I have yet to damage a single one. Opals are far sturdier than people think.

What I’m really saying is that you can wear opal jewelry when you like. As is true with any gemstone, they require basic care, but they are not the delicate, high-maintenance stones they are often made out to be. Enjoy your opals with confidence, knowing they are just as wearable as your other gemstones. Also know that at Sheila Marie Opals I wear all my opals without worry about damage, and you can too. If any of the opals you’ve purchased from me should fail for any of the common sense reasons I’ve mentioned above, they are guaranteed to be repaired or replaced for no charge.