Caring for your Semi Precious Opal Stones

Opals are a delicate naturally derived stone. They range in the hardness scale between 5.5 to 6.5. What this means is that they are a relatively soft stone so caring for them is important to their long lasting luster. Here are some care tips that will help make sure your stones will last without damage.


Opals contain water, normally up to 10% but can contain up to 21% water for the finer high-end opal gemstones. They are very delicate gemstones and must be treated carefully. We mainly see opals in rings and necklaces and sometimes in bracelets and earrings. The settings are usually pretty strong to protect the stone.

Since they are a delicate stone, you should avoid getting perfume, cosmetics, hair products, etc. on your opals as these harmful chemicals can damage the stone and reduce the brilliant shine of your gemstone. Always put your opal jewelry on last after applying your personal products to protect your jewelry from the harsh chemicals.

Should you need to clean your stones for any reason, make sure that you are very careful. To clean, you will want to gently rinse them under cool running water and use a very mild liquid soap if you need to remove any debris. Avoid scrubbing them with cleaning brushes or cleaning solvent of any kind.

If you need to clean the settings, again, use only cool water and mild soap since any other cleanswer could seep through and damage your opals.  Store your opal jewelry in a separate storage compartment in your jewelry box or in its own lined box without any other jewelry so the stones are not accidentally scratched.

By following these suggestions, you will make sure your opals remain lustrous and beautiful for a long time. Enjoy wearing them with pride.

by Jasmine Yesak, Contributing Editor at ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of quality jewelry boxes, jewelry organizers and watch boxes. Jasmine is a Jewelry Enthusiast and Organization Consultant, she writes about Jewelry Care and Jewelry Storage Tips.