How to Preserve Opals

Opals exude a sparkling brilliance that most owners wish to preserve. Softer and more fragile than many gemstones, opals require different standards of care than other types of jewelry. Special care is especially important for opal jewelry worn regularly. Properly caring for and preserving your opal jewelry will help ensure you can enjoy your opals for years to come.

Instructions

1

Prevent your opals from getting scratched by removing your jewelry when working on projects such as while doing home or auto repairs.

2

Remove your opal jewelry, especially rings, while gardening or visiting the beach. Sand and soil can take the polish off the stone.

3

Store opals in a dark area to prevent overheating, which can cause cracking or chipping. If you are storing your stones for a long time, place them in a sealed plastic bag with a small amount of water to prevent them from drying out.

4

Rub mineral oil over your opals with a cotton swab to moisturize them if they start to dry out. Natural skin oils can also restore moisture if the stone is not overly dry.

5

Clean your opals with a jewelry cleaning cloth approved for opals and gold or silver, depending on the type of setting your stone has. Do not put opals in ultrasonic cleaning machines as these may damage the stones.

6

Take your opals to a jeweler if they need to be repolished or have scratches removed.