Lightning Ridge Black Opal Jewelry
2010s Australian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Opal, Black Opal, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Opal, Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian More Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Australian More Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Pendant Necklaces
Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Opal
2010s Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Opal, Garnet, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Black Opal, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Solitaire Rings
Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Opal, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Australian Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Black Opal, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Agate, Emerald, Malachite, Ruby, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Australian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Opal, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Art Deco Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
Alexandrite, Aquamarine, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Garnet, Multi-gem...
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Agate, Emerald, Malachite, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Opal, Onyx, Turquoise, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
White Diamond, Opal, Tanzanite, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Wh...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Multi-gem...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Multi-gem...
20th Century French Art Deco Cluster Rings
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Fashion Rings
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Platinum
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Vintage 1920s Australian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, Platinum, Enamel, Mixed Metal
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Tourmaline, Paraiba, White Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Belgian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Blue Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Tu...
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Lightning Ridge Black Opal Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Lightning Ridge Black Opal Jewelry?
The Legacy of Opal in Jewelry Design
Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.
Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)
Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!
There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.
So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.
There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).