When people think about how to invest their money when it comes to jewelry, they aren’t usually thinking about resale value. An investment in fine jewelry isn’t like an investment in stocks, bonds or even other forms of collectibles and loose gemstones. No, the investment people make in their jewelry collection is more than simply a financial one – it’s a collection that becomes a reflection of you and, ultimately, a part of you.
Any good jewelry collection will more than likely feature several different gemstones, but the focus early on can too often be on getting rubies, diamonds and other well-known and more common gemstones. When I talk to people about jewelry, I always recommend exploring opal jewelry options and here I’ve gathered together my top reasons why.
1. Affordable Elegance
Perhaps one of the best reasons to choose opal jewelry is also the most practical. Opals offer people the opportunity to own fine, truly elegant jewelry without an astronomical price tag. The diversity and natural brilliance of opals means that artists can create amazing pieces that bring together elegance, style and value.
2. A Versatile Foundation
Using opals as foundation pieces for a jewelry collection gives people instant access to a dynamic and versatile collection right from the start. Opals bring together different colors – sometimes from the same color family such as crystal opals which combine various shades of white or more diverse pieces such as boulder opals that bring together teals, brown and golds. This innate diversity makes each piece more flexible when it comes to pairing it with your style or your mood.
3. It’s in the Stars
For those who believe in astronomy, opals can be an important gemstone. Opals – along with diamonds – are the gemstones associated with the planet Venus. People with astrological signs ruled by Venus as well as those who are influenced by it have said that wearing opals strengthens the effects Venus has on their lives – and their personality. Wearers claim they have seen improvement in everything from art and creativity to improved relationships and feeling fulfilled.
4. Health Benefits
According to the book The Book of Stones: Who They Are and What They Teach by Robert Simmons, Naisha Ahsian and Hazel Raven opals can offer physical benefits as well. They make special mention of fire opals which they claim “carries a frequency of ecstasy.” They explain that fire opals stimulate creativity and passion and that it stimulates the inner chi as well as the body’s endocrine system which can help to boost energy as it fights inflammation.
5. The Gentler Form of Mining
While all forms of mining affect the local environment, mining for opals is less invasive than other forms of gemstone mining. The biggest adverse effects opal mining brings about is usually associated with soil compaction and shifting land. This is an issue which often cannot be avoided and that is why it’s so important to work with a company committed to mining with methods that ensure the safety of the people working as well as minimizing the damage it creates.
6. Uncommonly Good
While opals are fairly well known, they’re not well represented in most jewelry collections. While many people reach almost automatically for more common gemstones when selecting jewelry. But there’s something to be said for taking the road less traveled when it comes to jewelry style. Opals have a reputation for turning heads and starting conversations thanks to their Bohemian yet elegant look.
7. They Play Well with Others
In addition to complementing any look or style, opals also pair well with other gemstones. Depending on the kind of opal you choose, opals make the perfect companion piece for everything from diamonds and emeralds to pearls and sapphires. Since opals come in so many different colors as well as levels of brilliance, you can select pieces that dazzle against a monochromatic stone or choose opals with more solid coloring to balance against gemstones that sparkle.
8. October is a Great Month
Opal is the birthstone for October. October marks the beginning of the holiday season in many countries, with Halloween being the first major holiday in the winter lineup of festivities. In many climates, October is also a colorful month, filled with the brilliant and blazing colors of the leaves turning in the trees. The weather, too, can be awe inspiring and unpredictable. Brilliant blue skies can give way to a rosy and grey swirl of autumnal storms. This same diversity and color play is found in many opals, making it a perfect pair.
9. A Connection to History
Opals have a long history of use, dating back to the Middle Ages. Back then, opals were seen as stones that could create good luck for anyone who wore them. This was because people believed opals contained the properties and virtues of each gemstone that had a color represented in the opal color family. Considering opal colors range from the palest of whites to the most brilliant greens, red and blues that meant pretty much every gemstone was well represented.
10. Jewelry That Can Evolve
One of the best things about opals is how easily they can be set and reset. Not that you’ll want to do that often, but it means a piece you buy today can be passed on to other family members or to your closest friends. As these pieces become transformed into heirlooms, they can be reset in newer settings to reflect changing times without compromising the beauty of the stone itself. An opal on its own possesses a timeless beauty which transcends fashions, fads and generations of use.