How do I care for my ring?

Opals contain water and require gentle treatment, so remove the ring before washing hands, swimming, or using household chemicals. Store it away from extreme heat and direct sunlight to prevent drying and cracking. Clean the metal and diamonds with a soft brush and warm soapy water, but avoid soaking the opal. A professional check of the claws every few years ensures the softer central stone remains secure in its setting.

Can I wear an opal every day?

Opals rate lower on the hardness scale than diamonds, meaning they scratch more easily with rough daily use. Wearing a white opal diamond ring daily requires mindfulness about impact and manual tasks. Choosing a bezel setting offers extra protection for the stone compared to exposed claws. Many people reserve these pieces for lighter wear or social occasions to preserve the surface polish.

How do I date an antique ring?

Hallmarks stamped inside the band provide the most reliable guide to a ring's origin, indicating the assay office, metal purity, and year of manufacture. Stylistic clues like yellow gold boat settings or white gold geometric frames also point to specific decades. Comparing the cut of the diamonds and the overall construction method helps confirm whether a piece belongs to the Victorian, Edwardian, or Art Deco period.

What is play of colour?

Play of colour refers to the flash of rainbow hues that moves across an opal as the light shifts over its surface. This optical effect arises from the internal diffraction of light through microscopic silica spheres. High quality white opals display bright, distinct patches of red, green, and blue from every viewing angle. Muted stones show only faint spectral hints.