Opal Rings for Men - Tips and Ideas
Opal rings look great on anyone. Most men prefer the large opal solid. If you want to make a statement, the gemstone to go for is the black opal . However, they carry an aspirational price tag.
A man can also go for an inlaid opal or a doublet or solid opal. The majority of opal rings are set with claw settings which are more suitable for women. Men should preferably go for “rub over” settings that appear spartan, sleek and with minimal feminine touch. An opal ring made for a man could be big and diamonds may also be set adjacent to the opal to multiply the opal's appeal.
Boulder Appeal
Men should preferably go for the boulder opal, which is a handsome gem and is perfect for creating opal rings for the masculine sex. Among boulder opals, the undulating opal category is most popular among men. Boulder opal is mined from Queensland in Australia. This type of opal has ironstone as a host rock, and when the ironstone is cut and polished, it transforms into the back of opal solid.
Opal is best set into a 14 carat gold ring as it occupies the perfect place between soft and hard. Nobby opal extracted from Lightning Ridge in Australia is considered the best to set, due to the ability of the opal to display a high dome or cabochon. In the process of cutting and polishing the stone, the cutter decides the way it will bet cut and polished with a dome to acquire the best carat weight and size.
Buying Opal Gemstone
You must take into account the mix of the type of opal, its brilliance, size, pattern and colour. Once you decided on the quality and type of opal, it filters down to selecting the opal colour you find most attractive and one which fits your budget.
- Background colour and type: It is the main factor in determining opal value. Black opal demands a higher price than crystal opal. White or milky opal is the most economical of all opals.
- Size: The bigger the opal the more valuable it is. The unit of measurement is carats.
- Brilliance: The more vibrant the colour, the greater is its value. An opal with a single pulsating colour is more valuable compared to a dull stone with multiple colours.
The price of the opal ring is dependent on the stone type and setting you select.