Opals
 

I know that there are enough opal lovers on GC to give me good advice!

I inherited a gorgeous ring of a large (11 ½ X 13 ½ mm) opal surrounded by 14 diamonds. I've had it appraised for both insurance and selling purposes, so I know its value. I realize that I'll never get its full value. It's a very fiery opal, which I've kept well oiled, and the setting is yellow gold.


The terms of inheritance included:

1) I never wear it ( the superstition) and

2) a list of people to whom I'm not to give it.

What would you suggest? Ebay? Craig's List? If you have any suggestions, please help out a sister, ADPi or Panhellenic!


PS: Now that I have my Alpha Delta Pi pin collection mostly in one place, I may be selling some of the duplicates, too.

You will never get the real value of it on Ebay and you never know who you are meeting with from Craig's list. I would suggest taking it to a reputable jeweler (or a couple) and asking them to appraise it again and if they would consider buying it from you or selling it at an upcoming estate auction. In my area, there are several companies that would consign it for you at auction.

Is there a jeweler in your area who sells antique jewelry? That is probably the best choice. If you don't know of a reputable one, I'd go to a regular jeweler and ask for a recommendation. I know a guy in Waterloo, Iowa, but I'm sure that would be loads of help to you ;)

I'm going to be going through the same thing relatively soon with my wedding ring. I also don't know what protocol is for getting rid of no longer needed wedding rings. I guess I'll figure it out!

Remind me the superstition with opal rings?

Supposedly, it's bad luck for a person not born in October to wear an opal. That's how my mother inherited it - she was the only October baby!

I've been a few jewelers, and all of them are terribly impressed with the ring. The only problem (according to most of them) is that there is a limited market for opals, and none of them can afford to take it on. :(

I'm also going to unload an old wedding band, but I can pretty much take that to one of the gazillion gold buyers!

Out here there are estate stores, similar to consignment stores. They tend to only handle antiques or more expensive things than most of the consignment stores.

I'll have to look them up! Thank you! I fully realize that I'll get half of its value, but at least I know what that is.

That sounds exactly like a ring I had. My mother inherited it from a friend who never married, and she gave it to me because I was born in October. (My mom is superstitious.) A few years ago, we took the stones out and had the diamonds set into a bracelet. I still have the opal unset and intend to reset it in a necklace one of these days. I put the setting in with some other unused gold jewelry and sold it. Even if you won't wear the opal, there's no sense in letting the diamonds languish.

I had always heard that the opal must be either your birthstone OR the opal can be given to you as a gift/handed down from a loved one born in October. I had a teacher in high school with a February birthday who had a gorgeous opal engagement ring. It was given to her by her husband's great aunt who had no children. When the great aunt found out that the couple could not afford an engagement ring, she offered the ring to my teacher. Teacher did not want to accept due to the superstition. The great aunt was an October birthday and said that it could be given by an October to someone the giver loves. My teacher still wears the ring to this day, no major catastrophes and they have been married for 40 years this summer. :)

Better sell that gold before it goes down any lower. Can you post a picture of your ring?

Let me know!! I'd love to see what you're considering selling!!!

I'll have my DH upload it for me. I know the dimensions, but we didn't take the photo with a ruler. :( It does go up to my knuckle (and I have big hands).

This is the ring:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...69431138_o.jpg


I am also selling some of my Alpha Delta Pi pins, most notably:


-An all opal pin, yellow gold, miniature (16 spaces for jewels), opals

-Alternating opals and sapphires, miniature size (16 spaces for jewels), white gold, Alpha Iota Chapter guard, chased, 1974 (I knew this sister; it was never worn)

-Opal with ruby points, old standard size (20 spaces for jewels), white gold, Beta Beta chapter guard with opals (9 on each Beta), treasurer dangle.

-An old standard size (20 spaces for jewels), pearls with diamond points, yellow gold

-Yellow gold ring with pin permanently attached, miniature size (16 spaces for jewels), pearls with ruby points

I have pictures available on Facebook. I'd rather not put them on ebay, and GreekChat doesn't allow sales. If you're interested, please PM me here or on Facebook.

Okay, how do I make that picture about 1/10th of the size shown??

honeychild,
as you know I love Opals as you do, they are hard ro find from any IHQ sites if at all.

Going to a local jeweler to get a quote may be your best bet? When placing them in settings would cost you Mucho $ I am sure. If find an ADP with opals on ebay am sure it would also cost $$$!

Opals are a funny gem, each a different color unlike all other stones (Gems).

I have a lovely ADPi Badge that is among others in a shadow box to go to my Chapter for Those GLOs who were there when I founded my local and became LXA. Just wanted to show our History and GLOs there in 1965/66.:)

That ring is gorgeous, it's terrible you can't wear it. Would having the opal and diamonds re purposed into a new piece of jewelry be an option?