Opal is the stone people ask me about most in October, and it is also the one that surprises them most once they see it in person. It does not sit still. Turn your head and the color shifts. That is the whole appeal, and it is also why opal deserves a little explaining before you buy it.
Here is the plain version: what opal is, what kind of opal we actually carry, why your pair will not match the photo exactly, and how to keep it looking good for years.
October has two birthstones. Opal is the one that glows.
October is one of the few months with two official birthstones, opal and tourmaline. We carry opal, so that is what this guide covers. If you are shopping for an October birthday, opal is the more traditional pick and the easier one to wear every day in a small size.
What opal actually is
Opal is silica, the same basic building block as quartz, but it formed with a small amount of water locked inside it. That water and the way the silica is arranged are what give opal its soft, almost lit-from-within look. It is also the reason opal needs a little more care than harder stones, which I cover below.
There are two broad families of opal, and the difference matters when you shop:
- Precious opal shows play of color, those sharp flashes of rainbow that move as you tilt the stone. It is what most people picture, and it is priced accordingly.
- Common opal does not flash. Instead it has a soft glow and a solid body color, from milky white and pale pink to honey yellow and pale blue. It is quieter, very wearable and far more affordable.
I would rather you know exactly what you are getting, so here it is. Our sterling silver opal studs are common opal. They give you that gentle glow, not rainbow fire, and the listings say so. Our golden opal studs are a warm honey color set in solid 14K gold. And the red opal in our Sonoran Mountain cuff is cut by hand into narrow channels so it catches light in bands between the green turquoise.
Why no two pairs look the same
Each stone is cut from a different part of the rough, so color varies from pair to pair. Some of our oval studs lean pink, some lean yellow, some lean cool blue. The product photos show that range on purpose. Yours will be one of those, not a carbon copy of the photo, and most people end up loving that their pair is their own.
Gold or silver with opal?
Both work, and they do different jobs.
- Sterling silver keeps opal cool and airy. It suits the paler pink and blue stones and goes with everything else you already wear in silver.
- Solid 14K gold warms opal up. Golden opal in gold reads like honey in sunlight. Our gold studs are 14K in the bezel and the post, not plated and not gold filled.
Can you mix them? Yes. One gold pair and one silver pair in a stacked ear is a deliberate look, not a mistake.
How to care for opal
Opal is softer than quartz, roughly 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and because it holds water it does not like extremes. None of this is hard. It just has to become habit.
- Put it on last, take it off first. Lotion, perfume and hairspray go on before your earrings.
- Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners. A soft cloth with plain lukewarm water is all opal needs.
- Avoid sudden temperature swings. Do not leave opal on a hot dashboard or go straight from a hot tub into the cold.
- Store it on its own. Harder stones and metal can scratch opal, so give it a soft pouch or its own slot in your jewelry box.
One more reason studs are such a good way to wear opal: earrings take far fewer knocks than rings do. A pair of opal studs, treated kindly, will be in your ears for years.
Choosing an opal gift for an October birthday
Studs are the easiest birthstone gift there is because there is no size to guess. A few things that make it easier still:
- All three of our opal studs are part of Build Your Stud Stack. Pick any 3 pairs and 15% comes off automatically at checkout.
- Shipping is free on orders of $75 and up.
- Not sure of her taste? A silver pair in a soft color is the safest first opal. Gold is the upgrade for someone who already wears gold.
Shop opal at Wildflower
- Opal Oval Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver, 7.5mm, $35
- Opal Round Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver, three sizes, $42 to $52
- Golden Opal Stud Earrings in Solid 14K Gold, round or oval, $78 to $88
- Sonoran Mountain Turquoise and Red Opal Channel Inlay Cuff, one of a kind
Or see everything together in the Opal Jewelry collection. If you have a question about a specific pair, ask me. I would rather answer it before you buy than after.
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