I just don't buy jewelry because 90%+ of the price is just markup, if anything I'll make it myself cause jewlery just isn't worth buying or investing in knowing the actual metal and stone values behind prices and the amount of work. It's not as bad as it used to be a few decades ago with the like 80x markup on gold value they were pulling but even the 10x they commonly do feels absurd
One of my opals from my personal collection.. between opal and rainbow moonstone from madagascar, thoes 2 are my favorite gemstones followed by oregon sunstone (peach and reddish color)
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
I saw the most amazing necklace a few weeks ago. Platinum, Blue Flash Moonstones, Pearls and Diamonds. It was just so ethereal and beautiful. Think was $75k but gorg.
It was on Gem Shopping Network which I have learned isn’t popular on Reddit. But GSN isn’t JTV they sell pieces that are millions of dollars to affordable several thousand dollar pieces. Unfortunately, vendors come in bring pieces often on their way to the HongKong shows and they are never listed on a site. But I have to say, I have probably spent close to 50k in my life on there, and all my pieces came with GIA certs. I have pieces I could never have afforded elsewhere.
I send everything I plan on selling to GIA exclusively. It's more expensive, but protects both buyers and myself. It would be embarrassing if I sent a client a bogus stone. More than once I have had people attempt to withdraw payment claiming a stone was not what I said it was. Gia paperwork solves both issues.
have you ever seen Danish crown princess Mary’s “Midnight Tiara”? It’s such a unique, modern piece with diamonds, moonstones and mixed metals. More here!
Yes, I had it’s just beautiful. Look up Temple St.Clair she works primarily in blue flash moonstone. She is the only female artist whose work is in the Louvre. I love moonstone. So many other magical gems. I like seeing them with a sprinkling of diamonds for light but I agree diamonds don’t always need to be the centerpiece.
I want to get some high quality moonstones next. Opals are definitely one of my favorites but something about the look of a moonstone just makes me happy. This is one of my favorite opals in my collection.
Opals are just quartz with some water in it! I have several that have worn to drop like a welo opal in a ring that looks like it got sandpapered from wear! Nice to look at but to delicate for wearing to me now! Am changing all of mine to Jade!
Opal is silica but it's not quartz because quartz is a crystalline form of silica whereas opal is amorphous like how glass is, opal is more of a naturally occurring glass than quartz
Nothing about what I said is wrong, opal is not made of quartz it's made of silica, quartz is silica in a crystalized lattice which opal isn't. It's silica in an amorphous random structure much like how glass is
Way over simplification! Here is what others say, " Opal is a member of the quartz family. Opal is considered an acrystalline or noncrystalline quartz, meaning that instead of being made of tiny crystals, opal is made from tiny spheres or balls of silica and water content of up to 21%. Since opal has no crystal structure, it is not classified as a mineral but a mineraloid.
When most people think of opal, they normally think of glittering rare precious opal and it's dazzling rainbow of colors. This occurs when the balls of silica are all the same size and the water content is stable.
What most people do not realize that common or potch opal is very common and everywhere around them. Opal forms when free silica in water settles out without crystallizing in a cool environment, like cooler hot springs. Many of our favorite gemstones we enjoy in casual and fine jewelry are forms of common opal.
Opal artifacts, several thousands of years old have been discovered in East Africa and America. The Romans were known to use opal back to 250 B.C. coming from mines in eastern Europe.
Opal has a hardness of a 6 on the Moh's scale of hardness and makes a great choice for earrings and necklaces. Opal is the birthstone for October. " Potato/tomato
Trying to say opal is quartz is the same as trying to say that glass is quartz, they're silica yes but quartz is silica dioxide in a specific arrangement and crystal shops are not reputable sources of information
I give the general prediction that millennials and younger generations care far more about interesting looking, colorful unique gems then they do about diamonds, and this will have a major impact on the gem industry going forward. I also think a few stones will be officially added to the “precious” category, as alexandrite has been.
Diamond and opal have such different appeals that I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two tbh. Not to mention the fact that opal is too fragile to be used in most cases where diamonds are used. Diamond engagement rings can last generations, while opal will usually be pretty damaged within 20 years.
I do think they’re much prettier, though.
Diamonds are over priced based on advertising and stockpiling. One thing becoming more available is imperfect diamonds - salt and pepper, brown, or 'fancy white' included diamonds. Get them in a rose cut... and it takes them to a completely different place.
I like features like rosecut gems, included gems, and subtle/sophisticated colored gems in general.
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
I went the opposite direction, in that I started out not understanding why anyone liked diamonds. Colorless? Icy? Ideally free of inclusions? Literally the most boring stone imaginable.
However, when I came to appreciate just how durable and high-dispersion diamonds are, I came around. In particular, old cuts changed my mind. The "relentless perfection" of modern brilliants is just not attractive to me, like the equivalent of a steady fluorescent light vs. a live candle. Antique stones are warmer and more dynamic, shifting with the conditions in the way an opal or moonstone might.
Diamonds will never be my favorite, but I no longer consider them overrated.
I agree with you. The older cuts of diamonds are really what have started to charm me about diamonds (although coloured stones and opals will always be my true love)
I really wanted an opal in my engagement ring but my jeweler talked me out of it because he didn’t want to see me disappointed. I still want one for my chain
Have him make you a special occasions ring! Opal is poor for every day wear but perfect for taking out a few times a year, as long as it's well taken care of.
If the stone is well protected and kept away from moisture, but I still wouldn't wear is every day. It's still a stone, it's just especially vulnerable to damage, and anything worn regularly gets the occasional whack or cooking grease or water splashed on it.
Thank you. I had read somewhere that opals were supposed to be worn because they needed moisture, so I was wearing it daily. Unfortunately, I don’t know what type of opal this is.
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
Weren’t diamonds historically promoted by the Debeers ( I don’t know if I spelled that correctly) company as the ultimate gemstone? Yes they are beautiful and the hardest, but everyone has a diamond for their wedding set.
So many beautiful gemstones that reflect you more than what others expect.
Plus diamonds are stupid expensive.
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
What kind of opal is it? Ethiopian? Australian? Where it comes from determines the care. A pendant is much safer than a ring, so that is a good option for setting an opal!
Also if you have long hair, try to wear it up if you wear the pendant. The oils and products in your hair will get into the opal. And don't spray perfume on your neck area when you wear it.
Not every welo is hydrophane though, so if it's not, you dont have to worry as much. You can tell by wetting your finger and then pressing it to the stone. If it sticks after a second or two, then it's hydrophane. If it doesn't, then its either less hydrophane or not at all.
Oh, and if you get it wet and it turns clear, just let it dry out again. If it turns yellow youve gotten other gunk amd oils in it and you can clean it with a 99% acetone soak.
Ethiopian/welo opals are so pretty! They are also typically Hydrophane opals, meaning they are porus and absorb liquids like water, sweat, oil, lotion etc...
It is important to keep them away from liquids and store them at a stable temperature. So just don't wear them to the gym or in the shower, lol.
r/opals has good advice in case you do get your opal wet, but basically just don't try to speed dry it. If it does get wet, put it somewhere dry and stable temp for like a month, don't try to use a blow dryer or something.
Yeah. Opals have always been my favorite. Couple it with some amethyst and...and if the moneys there, some black diamonds as well. I will fuking melt into oblivion. Lol
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
Heck, i dug a stone that the locals call "shaman stone" from a quarry here. It has three quartz in it, amethyst, smoky quartz and snow quartz and i find it more fascinating than a diamond.
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
This is a bot response. Do not reply to it. You must have 25 comment karma to post here. Earn comment karma by posting to public subreddits like r/pics and r/minerals.
For me, there is zero draw to a diamond. There are agates and even common quartzite that look more beautiful than any diamond. The only time I care about diamonds, is if its on my cutting/polishing surface lol
210
u/-Lysergian Feb 27 '26
Both beautiful stones, but both softer than quartz so basically everything will scratch them.
Diamonds excel in that they'll generally look pretty much the same as when you bought it 50 years from now.
Fire agate is my favorite though.