Caring for your opal
| CARING FOR YOUR OPAL Caring for opals should be a routine event. Softer than the most popular crystal gemstones and naturally containing water, opal requires special considerations. On the Mohs hardness scale of 1 -10, diamonds (the hardest of all materials) are 10, talc is 1, and quartz is 7. Because it is so common in our environment, quartz is often used as a hardness standard. Any gem harder than 7 will not be scratched when it rubs against most rocks, car doors, steel sinks, ceramic counters, and other everyday items. Such everyday items as steel, stone walls, tiles, quartz, and gems like amethyst, spinel, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds can scratch opal, which on the Mohs scale of hardness is 5 - 6 1/2. It is advisable to store each piece of your opal jewellery in its own padded cloth bag. Any gem will break with certain direct hits. Because of their structure, opals are particularly vulnerable to great impacts. Doublet Opals versus Solid Opals Water affects 'assembled' opal (doublets or triplets) and 'solid' opal differently. It is better to remove a doublet or a triplet ring from your finger before washing your hands or bathing. The glue reacts to prolonged exposure to water, dulling the appearance of the assembled stone as the layers separate. To clean all opal products, avoid ultrasonic cleaners and steamers, bleach, all chemicals, and cleaners. You can safely wash solid opal jewelry in plain warm water or soapy water (no detergent). Oil will discolor your opal. Neither oiling nor storing opal in water prevents cracking or heals existing cracks. Due to its Amorphes structure all Opals contain moisture when mined Opal dehydrates soon after being mined, then stabilizes. Most opal that has survived for several months without showing crazing is likely to stay intact. For this reason the opal cutters leave the stone to cure for several months before they start cutting the stone, and weeks before the final polishing. But do not expose opal to high heat (over 100° Celcius), prolonged direct summer sun, bright and hot showcase lights, extreme desert conditions, low humidity bank vaults, and similar temperature and humidity extremes. Rapid thermal changes can also jeopardize the stability of your opal. It is better to remove your opal ring while you are cooking. Wear gloves when departing a cozy 75°F living room for a sub-zero winter outing. With reasonable care, your opal treasure will long provide you elegant beauty. |