7 Stunning Opal Rings To Shop Now
See the most unique renditions of the newest gemstone craze.
They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, but opal is this season's biggest jewelry trend. While the delicate and rare gemstone is coming back into style, they have a rich history. In Australia, opals were formed 70 million years ago, and many Bedouin tribes believed that they were filled with lightning due to their striking colorful element. Ancient Romans also gifted opals to their wives, considering them to be the most treasured and powerful of the gemstones.
Now mainly found in Australia, Ethiopia, and Mexico, every precious opal stone is unique in color and form due to its natural formation, with red, yellow, purple, pink, blue, and green shining through at different angles. More fragile than diamonds or other daily-use stones, opals are usually reserved for fine jewelry settings. L'OFFICIEL breaks down the best colors and cuts for this iridescent gemstone at different price ranges.
Los Angeles-based designer Irene Neuwirth is a favorite among celebrities, with Tracee Ellis Ross, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sarah Paulson wearing her collections on the red carpet. This deep blue oval opal stone from Neuwirth's tennis collection is set in an 18-karat rose and white gold ring with full-cut diamonds. This unique color, known as peacock opal, is one of the rarest of opal's color spectrum and is associated with calmness and creativity. While it is undoubtedly a statement piece, jewelry lovers can also pair this piece with thin diamond bands for an elegant cocktail look.
One of a Kind Diamond Tennis Ring: Opal, $13,300, Irene Neuwirth.
Chinese-American jewelry designer Mimi So has crafted pieces for Jay-Z, Ashley Graham, Uma Thurman, Priyanka Chopra, and Alicia Keys and worked with the costume department on Sex and the City. Based in New York, So is known for her high-quality jewels and one-of-a-kind settings, such as this playful green opal bunny in a "field" of 18-karat yellow and white gold and decorative diamonds. So's pieces are always the center of attention, making this a perfect standalone opal piece.
Wonderland Green Andamooka Opal Bunny Ring, $7,900, Mimi So.
Designer Sweta Jain was inspired by the Persian term for "the perfection of beauty" when creating Goshwara. Using only the finest materials and traditional techniques, her renowned label is known for the quality of its precious gemstones. This remarkable 7.39-carat multicolored opal is set in 18-karat yellow gold and adorned with small diamonds. Since the setting is more traditional, opal rings like this are a valuable addition to any collection as they will continue to turn heads as trends change.
18K Yellow Gold Opal, Diamond Ring, $7,500, Goshwara.
For those looking for more of the spiritual qualities of this gemstone, look no further than Brooke Gregson's protective evil eye opal ring. The cut and color of the striking blue opal resemble an iris, while the gorgeous diamond setting mimics eyelashes. Handmade in the UK with 18 karat gold, this is the perfect stacking ring to ward off evil energy.
18-karat gold, opal, and diamond ring, $5,756, Brooke Gregson.
This gorgeous Wello opal ring is from Iannuzzi's Les Corallines collection, twisting underwater coral formations into jewelry. The French luxury jewelry designer is known for her ornate settings, including this ring that resembles a coral reef with a technicolor planet Earth inside it. This particular opal stone is native to Ethiopia, and the mini sculpture of a setting is available in yellow gold or silver.
Coralline Reef Wello opal ring, $3,515, Ornella Iannuzzi.
The beautiful 5.5-carat tumbled orange stone in Melissa Spalten's design has been nicknamed "fire opal" and is believed to bring courage and stamina to the wearer. Resembling volcanic lava, this gorgeous ring is one of the more unique opal colors on the market, set in 18-karat yellow gold and decorated with small diamonds. Worn on its own or with other rings, fire opals will brighten up any look.
Tumbled Opal 18K Yellow Gold Ring, $3,200, M.Spalten.
If you want to join the opal trend but are unsure where to start, Pamela Love's spiritual designs are a delicate entry point. Love is deeply influenced by astrology and nature, which is where the "Comet" ring comes from. This dainty two-karat pink opal stone is set in 18 karat gold with a gold diamond pavé band. You can pair this ring with other pieces from Love's comet collection or plain yellow gold stacking rings.
Mini Comet 18K Yellow Gold Opal, Diamond Ring, $1,200, Pamela Love.
