HOW TO LOOK AFTER JEWELLERY - OPALS

If you look after your jewellery, it will last forever, so - as a silversmith and jewellery designer with a wealth of experience with gemstones - I thought I'd pass on to you a few very important do's and don't's on how to care for your Opal jewellery. ​I hope you like it.
​Kate.x

Caring for your opals: Opals are soft stones, similar in hardness to turquoise, lapis lazuli and labradorite and are actually not quite as fragile as some people think. However cleaning and caring for your jewellery depends on the type of opal you own, so here's some tips:  

Solid Opals have the same hardness of glass and unlike doublets and triplets cannot be damaged by water. It is therefore safe to clean them with warm water, a mild detergent and a soft toothbrush or cloth.

Doublets and Triplets are made from layers which have been glued together prolonged exposure to water will cause a lifting of these layers. Your opal will then become grey or foggy in appearance. Just to reassure you that it is prolonged exposure that causes the damage and washing your hands or wearing your jewellery in the shower or the rain will be okay. To clean, just wipe with a damp cloth. Never soak or immerse in water. But, whatever type of opal you own...

Always:

• Remove your jewellery when undertaking exercise, DIY, gardening, housework etc to avoid cracks and scratches
• Avoid using or contact with bleaches and other cleaning products 
• Most precious opals contain 5-6% water and may crack if subjected to very dry conditions or to rapid changes in temperature. So, try to avoid extreme temperatures     (boiling water or the zero humidity of bank vaults).

Never:

• Place your opal into an ultrasonic cleaner - the intense vibrations may cause cracking    to your solid opal and water penetration in your doublets and triplets. Professional polishing can restore the colour and shine to a stone that has been scratched or become dull through years of wear. 
• As with all other jewellery store your opal in its own soft case or bag to avoid scratching or chipping from other pieces of jewellery

If you need to store your opal for a long period of time just wrap in cotton wool which has been soaked in a few drops of water and place in a sealed plastic bag. (The water will prevent water coming out of the stone should it be exposed to environments with very low humidity). The good news is that opals should be worn as often as possible. Humidity from the atmosphere and from the skin of the wearer provides the moisture this precious gem needs. 

I hope that helps
Kate.x

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