Opal Care
Opals are a beautiful gemstone and should be cared for like most other gemstones. Opal is not as hard other gemstones so keeping your opal safe is important.
Opal can scratch or crack if dropped on a hard surface. (So can a diamond) So care should be taken when storing you opal.
Always keep your opal in a padded jewelry bag or soft cloth when storing it.
If your opal is set in a piece of jewelry make sure when you are wearing it that you don’t knock it against any hard walls because the opal may scratch.
Opal is happiest in water since opal was formed in water and has water content inside the stone it will be more than happy to get a drink every so often.
Doublet opal is a opal that has been enhanced by joining 2 types of opal together to form black opal. The 2 pieces have been bonded together by glue and black oxide powder.
An opal doublet should be kept away from water because the water can dissolve the adhesive over time and the doublet will come apart.
To clean you opal you can use a soft cloth and rub the opal clean of any grease or dirt. Opal can be re-polished after a few years giving the stone a brand new polished appeal.
If you are not sure about your opal and you don’t know whether it is a doublet or a solid, take it to your local jeweler and get it cleaned professionally.
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