BS: opal storage

Subject: BS: opal storage
From: Hollowfox
Date: 04 Jun 12 - 10:49 PM

Two friends that I respect equally regarding lapidary matters have given me conflicting advice for my opals. One says to store them in mineral oil and one says to use distilled water. Anybody have any thoughts?

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Jun 12 - 11:13 PM

Well, the fire in opals comes from water trapped in the stone (or so my brother, who did lapidary, told me). Modern opals are "sealed" to prevent evaporation, but the "fire" will eventually go out. I'd guess either one would work.

You WERE born in October, weren't you?

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 12 - 11:14 PM

I've always heard water.

Looks as if these Aussies know their stuff: Opal Care.

Lot more to it than just water or oil, apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 12:22 PM

"Opals may be somewhat porous, in which case it is dangerous to immerse it in liquids other than water."

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: JennieG
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 05:32 PM

I keep my opals in the box in which they came. Several years ago I was lucky enough to be given three beautiful opals mined in Lightning Ridge (a friend lived there for several years) and had them set into a necklace which, when not being worn, lives in the padded box the jeweller gave me when I collected it. While they are not huge opals, they are very good stones.

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 07:03 PM

I just wear mine (including my engagement ring). Most of them are "old" opals -- lots of blues and greens. Some, like my engagement ring, are set in old-style rose gold -- not the garish newfangled bright pink rose gold.

I also have several black opals.

A lot of mine were acquired at antique shops or pawn shops (which, when I had money, I haunted for interesting and undervalued jewelry) -- I was once chased down the street by a woman who worked for a local downtown pawn shop crying, "Hey, Opal Lady! Hey, Opal Lady!"

I do have one unpolished opal that an old acquaintance gave me. It lives in a box. Sure looks nice when I spit on it...

No. Opals are not my birthstone. (But they are my mother's.) I just love opals. I often forget to take them off when doing gardening, yard work, or rough jobs. And I've been very lucky. And I don't do anything special to store them between wearings.

I'm sure they like the vitamin E oil I'm rubbing on Tom's leg...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 07:18 PM

Interesting site, Kat. Thanks!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 06:31 AM

I have a large green opal my uncle acquired in Ceylon (as it then was). My father had it set in a ring in 1965, and it lives in a jeweller's box. I rarely wear it because it s just too big and gets in the way. I'm not sure I'm terribly worried about its future as i'm not sure I'll live long enough to see any changes in it.

Subject: RE: BS: opal storage
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 02:24 PM

Katlaughing, thanks for the link.