Should you get an Opal Engagement Ring?
The saying “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend,” was first coined back in the Broadway production of Gentleman Prefer Blondes and was popularized by Marilyn Monroe in the film by the same name. While the saying mostly holds true when it comes to what women prefer for the center stone of their future engagement ring, other stones have been slowly rising in popularity. Instead of Diamonds, millennials have been flocking to Opal engagement rings.
One gem that is about as far from a Diamond that you can get as the center stone of your Engagement Ring is the Opal. More specifically, the precious opal, which gives off the optical effect of flashes of color. The internal structure of precious opal causes it to diffract light, resulting in the effect. Depending on the conditions in which it formed, opal may be transparent, translucent or opaque and the background color may be white, black or nearly any color of the visual spectrum. Black opal is considered to be the rarest, whereas white, gray and green are the most common. In addition, opal may exhibit adularescence, a form of iridescence. The price point of opals have made them appealing in recent years. Compared to a Diamond, you could get a much larger Opal for only a fraction of the cost of a Diamond of the same size.
Opals Are Very Delicate
However, with a lower price point, comes lower durability. While seeing an Opal engagement ring is certainly rare, there is a reason they are rarely seen. Opals score a 5.5 and 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. The Mohs Hardness scale tests the resistance of scratching of a mineral against other minerals with varying properties. The Diamond is the only mineral with a 10 out of 10 for hardness. This level of durability is one of the many reasons it is the most popular center stone for engagement rings. For this reason, it is recommended that Opals only be worn on special occasion. However, any gem can be used as a center stone and Van Scoy will help you craft the perfect ring to fit your stone.