Opals and Pins

[AOIIsilver]

Only people born in October should wear opals and

I have heard this woe ALL of my life. My mother is not born in October and has a beautiful ring. I always look to see if it is yet chipped!

I was always told that you must rub opals to deposit oils from your skin to keep them hydrated. Anyone else ever heard this?

Silver

[LoggerTheta]

Originally Posted by AOIIsilver

I have heard this woe ALL of my life. My mother is not born in October and has a beautiful ring. I always look to see if it is yet chipped!

I was always told that you must rub opals to deposit oils from your skin to keep them hydrated. Anyone else ever heard this?

Silver

I know the post I quoted is 6 years old, but I thought this was interesting. It didn't make sense to me at first (from a mineralogical point of view.) These must be synthetic opals that people have in their badges/jewelry because actual opal is just hydrated amorphous silica (like quartz except without a crystal structure). Synthetic opals can be porous, which would lead to cracking, whereas naturally occurring ones are not.

[steelerbear]

Originally Posted by LoggerTheta

I know the post I quoted is 6 years old, but I thought this was interesting. It didn't make sense to me at first (from a mineralogical point of view.) These must be synthetic opals that people have in their badges/jewelry because actual opal is just hydrated amorphous silica (like quartz except without a crystal structure). Synthetic opals can be porous, which would lead to cracking, whereas naturally occurring ones are not.

My mom has actually told me for years that opals--her birthstone--are incredibly fragile and need to be hydrated somehow. I don't recall if she told me that required body oils, steam, or if she even mentioned what that somehow is. But I know she's said that they're a pain to take care of, which is why she doesn't have very many. Well... that, and the fact that she likes bright, blue, fiery opals--not the pale, whitish ones you typically find now.

Back to the question about getting a new badge with opals: when my mom was ordering her badge decades ago (we're talking '60s), she called our jeweler to find out what color the opals were that year; perhaps you could do the same now. That would also let you know if they would look good with another stone (i.e. rubies, emeralds, or sapphires), or if you'd rather forgo them this time around.

[honeychile]

I can remember dozens of conversations between my high school best friend and my mother (both born in October) about opals. Both had had at lest one opal shatter on her, both had trouble getting insurance on them, both absolutely loved them. I would sit there, simmering over the opals I would never be allowed to wear.

But as to oiling them, my understanding was that, by wearing your opals (pearls or jade), you should rub them with your own natural oils.. It "personalizes" the stones while it gives them a lovely sheen. I know that my best jade definitely beautiful from rubbing it, and I can still smell my mother in her pearls.


ETA: Has anyone heard from Silver lately? I miss her!