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Have you recently bought an opal pendant from Vollé Jewellery and noticed that it can reflect rainbow colours in a dazzling pattern? Their movement across the stone highlights the play of colour. It is both captivating and breathtaking.
Why do opals change colour, and how can you care for them to maintain their natural beauty? We’ll outline the reasons why the appearance of these unique gemstones can alter over time, as well as offer care tips for your opal jewellery.
Why Do Opals Change Colour?
Opals show a play of colour due to their unique internal structure. The microscopic silica spheres inside the gemstone create this vivid play of colour when light hits it, resulting in opals’ distinctive, colour-shifting beauty.
The Role of Water in Opals
Opals naturally contain a substantial amount of water. Your opal pendant can have up to 10% water. Storing opals in moderate humidity is a popular recommendation; however, extreme dryness or rapid environmental changes should be avoided.
How Light Creates Colour in Opals
An opal’s ability to scatter light can be attributed to the differing arrangements of silica particles in its internal structure and the gaps between them. Light diffraction breaks up light into its individual colours, working like a prism. Known as the play of colour, this refraction of light is what makes opals so attractive as gemstones.
A relatively unknown opal fact is that the size of the stone’s silica spheres can influence the colour it produces. Larger spheres bring out oranges and reds, while smaller ones result in blues and violets. When the size of the spheres is uniform, an opal displays a more brilliant, intense and defined colour.
How to Care for Your Opal Jewellery
The play of colour from an opal is desirable, but never forget to give your opal jewellery the proper care it needs.
Consider the following tips for your opal jewellery:
- Keep them in a soft pouch or jewellery box: This helps protect them from scratches.
- Remove them when showering, swimming or washing dishes. Frequent exposure to soap or detergents may affect the stone’s appearance.
- Avoid exposing opals to very dry, hot or overly humid environments. Natural lighting conditions are best to maintain an opal’s inherent moisture balance.
- Do not use chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners to clean your opal. Use a dampened soft cloth; a gentle wipe is enough to keep your opals clean and lustrous.
How to Restore an Opal’s Colour
Would you like to own a rare and unique piece of jewellery that keeps its appeal over time? An opal pendant is the perfect piece to do so, as is any opal ring. Vollé Jewellery’s flagship Sydney store is home to a collection of the finest opal jewellery. Call 02 9269 0898, visit our website, book an appointment or simply walk into our store in Sydney, located opposite the QVB, to find an opal pendant or ring to call your own.
