Real opal jewelry

Real opal should mean one solid, natural stone. No glue line, no glass dome, not made in a lab, and not a porous stone that changes when it gets wet.

Most sellers will tell you their opal is real, and often that's technically true. Lab-created opal is chemically opal, and a doublet contains real opal. Both are fine when they're labeled. The word to look for is "solid".

A doublet is a thin slice of opal glued to a dark backing to imitate black opal. A triplet adds a clear dome of glass or quartz on top.

Lab-created opal is made, not mined, and often has a very regular pattern. Treated opal is natural opal that has been smoked or dyed to make it look darker.

All of these cost much less than solid opal. A large, bright, dark opal at a low price is almost always one of them. The checks are in how to tell if an opal is real.

A solid opal is one natural stone all the way through. A doublet is a thin slice of opal glued to a dark backing, and a triplet adds a clear dome on top. Look at the stone from the side: a doublet or triplet shows a straight line where the layers are glued. More in how to tell if an opal is real.

Every piece here is solid Australian opal, with its construction and origin on a signed certificate. Australian opal formed in sedimentary rock and holds up well to everyday wear, which is why we don't sell Ethiopian or lab-created opal.

White and crystal opal have a lighter body and softer color, and are easy to wear every day. Boulder opal keeps the ironstone it formed in, so it's earthy and one of the toughest opals. Black opal has a dark body that makes the colors stand out, and it's the rarest and most expensive.

Whichever you choose, no one else will have the same stone.

Sterling silver suits cooler colors like blue and green. Yellow gold suits warmer ones like red, orange and gold.

Opal is softer than most gems, about as hard as glass. Everyday contact won't hurt it, but a hard knock can chip it, so each setting is made to fit its stone and protect its edges.

Each ring is listed at the size it was made, so check the size before you buy. We don't resize opal rings. A local jeweler can resize one, but a ring that has been resized or altered elsewhere can't be returned.

Every necklace comes on a chain, ready to wear. Higher on the collarbone, a stone catches overhead light and flashes as the head turns. Lower, it sits in shadow and shows its color as you move.

Every piece comes with a signed certificate stating its construction and origin, and US shipping is free, tracked and insured.

If it's a ring, check their ring size before you buy, as we don't resize opal rings.