Another one of my discoveries at the Gem & Lapidiary Wholesalers show were these Mexican cantera opal cabochons. I was completely captivated by their color and flashes of irridescence. These actually caused me to totally blow the budget I had set for myself, but I think they’re totally worth it, and I’m looking forward to making some gorgeous new jewelry with them.
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Regarding the care of opals, let me begin by saying that I am not an opal expert, so when in doubt, please consult an expert, but I have read up on them a bit and hope you’ll find these tips helpful.
Opals have a hardness rating similar to glass, so they’re prone to scratching and cracking if they get banged around too much, so be sure to remove any opal jewelry, especially rings, that might be at risk of damage during physical activities like excercising, moving or gardening.
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Opals have a high water content and should be protected from prolonged exposure to strong light or heat and sudden changes in temperature which can sap the moisture over time or cause cracking. You should also avoid exposure to acidic or alkaline solutions and cosmetics, desert conditions, airtight storage and low-humidity storage (such as in a bank vault).
Gently clean opals with warm water, a mild detergent and a soft toothbrush or cloth. Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaning methods which may be too harsh.
One note if your opal is a “doublet” or “triplet” which is essentially a thin layer of opal glued to a backing (and with a quartz top layer in the case of the triplet) you should avoid prolonged exposure to water and detergents which can damage the adhesive.
Again, I hope you have found these tips to be helpful. If you have any tips of your own, please feel free to share them in the Comments section!
