My very rare vintage opal and yellow gold bracelet
- Thread starter Chloegal
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Enerchi
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hi, it is not black opal but is the crystal (jelly) transparent type. It is extremely lively for this type of opal which is usually pretty see through. I was told that the mine had this color of opal way back but not anymore.
And yes, I have to baby it. I am not the babying type and my husband almost has a heart attack when he sees me wearing it too much or next to other jewellery and sleeping with it.
It is easy to damage and it does put me off wearing it, especially knowing that it cant be replaced.
It is 3 very pretty stones with very feminine colors. The rareness also involves how difficult it is to get 3 similar colored stones as opals vary so much in color. Its hard enough getting a pair let alone 3.
I have other very old opals too including necklaces that are more secure and less likely to be banged around!
In Australia not many people wear or even like opals though.
And yes, I have to baby it. I am not the babying type and my husband almost has a heart attack when he sees me wearing it too much or next to other jewellery and sleeping with it.
It is easy to damage and it does put me off wearing it, especially knowing that it cant be replaced.
It is 3 very pretty stones with very feminine colors. The rareness also involves how difficult it is to get 3 similar colored stones as opals vary so much in color. Its hard enough getting a pair let alone 3.
I have other very old opals too including necklaces that are more secure and less likely to be banged around!
In Australia not many people wear or even like opals though.
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Sadly it's true Opals are not super popular here in Oz, mainly beacuse all the really supurb ones are sold overseas particularly to Asia where I gather they are sought after/loved. Really decent Opals are very expensive and all you tend to see in shops here are cheap, triplets in tacky jewellery. 
For a while in the 90's they were sold in every tourist shop (again for the many Asian tourists) so this sort of tarnished their reputation as "touristy trinkets" rather than serious jewels...
It's a pity because I absolutely love them, in fact my FIL was an Opal miner when he was younger so enjoys telling me about his experiences. My mum inheritated an amazing Opal set from her MIL but doesn't wear it often as she wears white gold. I'm hoping to inherit it....
For a while in the 90's they were sold in every tourist shop (again for the many Asian tourists) so this sort of tarnished their reputation as "touristy trinkets" rather than serious jewels...
It's a pity because I absolutely love them, in fact my FIL was an Opal miner when he was younger so enjoys telling me about his experiences. My mum inheritated an amazing Opal set from her MIL but doesn't wear it often as she wears white gold. I'm hoping to inherit it....
txgreeneyes
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Thanks everyone, you have really made my day!
HotPossum- Where did your fil mine?
Also re opals, the good ones have always been expensive. Probably more than people realise. And I think that although most people would love to wear a top quality opal, they would never choose to spend $ on an opal before most other stones. In addition to (the really beautiful) opals being expensive, all opals are super soft and fragile.
Another point that your fil might confirm is that people dont want to live their lives as opal miners any more. The life is hard and lonely. I think there are easier ways to make $ too.
So lack of relative demand (for top end stuff) and lack of absolute supply of all types of opal make the opal industry one to watch with interest.
I always wonder why movie stars etc dont wear them? Some of them are spectacular.
HotPossum- Where did your fil mine?
Also re opals, the good ones have always been expensive. Probably more than people realise. And I think that although most people would love to wear a top quality opal, they would never choose to spend $ on an opal before most other stones. In addition to (the really beautiful) opals being expensive, all opals are super soft and fragile.
Another point that your fil might confirm is that people dont want to live their lives as opal miners any more. The life is hard and lonely. I think there are easier ways to make $ too.
So lack of relative demand (for top end stuff) and lack of absolute supply of all types of opal make the opal industry one to watch with interest.
I always wonder why movie stars etc dont wear them? Some of them are spectacular.
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beaujolais
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I am a total, absolute, no-holds-barred lover of opals, especially crystal opals. I love that nature made something so wonderfully colorful, that changes color depending on light. I like black opals too, but their vivid colors remind me of what crystal opals would be like on an acid trip..a little over the top 
. The gorgeous subtler pastel colors - like those in your bracelet - are perfection 
. The gorgeous subtler pastel colors - like those in your bracelet - are perfection
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Kim Bruun
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armywife13
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