Pale oval opal ring surrounded by a halo.

Precious Opal Rings: Color, Settings and Care Questions

What Makes Precious Opal Different

Precious opal is known for play of color, the shifting patches of color that appear as the stone or the light moves. GIA distinguishes that effect from the body color of the gem. Common opal lacks play of color, and the term fire opal describes a yellow, orange or red body color; it does not automatically mean the stone displays that shifting effect.

Read the Photographs Carefully

The original gallery includes pale, blue, green and orange appearances in several ring settings. A still image captures one angle and lighting condition. It cannot establish origin, treatment or a commercial grade, and an orange photograph alone is not enough to certify a particular opal variety. View the actual stone in motion when possible.

Ask About Construction

Confirm whether the stone is solid opal, a doublet or a triplet, and request any known treatment information. Those details matter to both the description and care of the piece. Ask how the opal is supported in the setting and whether its edges are exposed to knocks during normal wear.

Care and Choosing a Ring

Follow care instructions for the actual opal and its construction. Do not test hardness with a coin or assume ultrasonic cleaning is suitable. A jeweler can inspect the setting and advise on cleaning and resizing before work begins. The gallery is an archive of earlier rings, so verify current availability and specifications rather than relying on older prices.

Original Photo Gallery

Multicolored round opal with split shoulders shown in profile.
Multicolored round opal with split shoulders shown in profile.
Blue appearing oval opal ring worn on the hand.
Blue appearing oval opal ring worn on the hand.
Green and blue oval opal with a rectangular stone surround.
Green and blue oval opal with a rectangular stone surround.
Pale oval opal halo ring held for a front view.
Pale oval opal halo ring held for a front view.
Dark round opal with multicolored flashes and round side stones.
Dark round opal with multicolored flashes and round side stones.
Elongated orange appearing opal with a halo.
Elongated orange appearing opal with a halo.
Blue appearing oval ring worn to show its scale.
Blue appearing oval ring worn to show its scale.
Green and blue oval opal photographed from above.
Green and blue oval opal photographed from above.
Side profile of the dark multicolored opal ring.
Side profile of the dark multicolored opal ring.
Rear setting of the orange appearing opal ring.
Rear setting of the orange appearing opal ring.
Basket profile beneath the pale oval opal.
Basket profile beneath the pale oval opal.
Round multicolored opal ring worn on a finger.
Round multicolored opal ring worn on a finger.
Profile of the blue appearing oval opal ring.
Profile of the blue appearing oval opal ring.

Further reading: GIA’s opal description and terminology.

Contact Diamonds by Raymond Lee in Boca Raton to ask about current availability or discuss a particular piece.

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