Opal Jewelry

The opal possesses undeniable aesthetic characteristics that raise it above its poorer physical qualities as a gemstone. Due to its high water content, opal is susceptible to environmental conditions that can induce dehydration and cracking, and because of its extreme softness and porosity, the gemstone can easily stain or damage. Nevertheless, the unsurpassed beauty of opal remains unchallenged in its magnificent variations, ranging in a plethora of colors and unmatched in its distinct silicate makeup. The unique attractiveness of opal, combined with the lapidary and jeweler skills of Native Americans, coalesce into some of the most exquisite forms of opal jewelry found in the world.

A recent addition to contemporary Native American art, the opal, which varies greatly, can be separated into three distinct categories. The first category is referred to as the "common opal". Best described as lacking the transparency and vibrant mixture of colors of the more elaborate opals, the common opal tends to act as a background or backdrop to the more valued gemstones in opal jewelry. Although common opal lacks a mixture of colors, it possesses solid colors, including blue, green, white, gray, pink and yellow. Common opal deserves its place in Native American jewelry, but the opal most highly revered and used in Zuni inlay and Navajo jewelry is "precious opal."

The most abundant colors of precious opal are white, blue, light blue, and green, with the most prized precious stones containing a mixture of red, orange, and shades of purple. The rarest of all the precious opals is the black opal, which is the most expensive and highly sought after. The black opal refers to its background, also available in dark blue or dark green, yet still referred to as black opal. While the name references the backdrop, black opal is vibrant with active colors. The third category of opals, "Mexican fire opal," is livid with orange to red colors, but because of its fragility it is rarely incorporated into opal jewelry.

Although opal jewelry consists of bracelets and rings, the physical weaknesses of opal makes the gemstone best suited for earrings and pendants. The Zuni inlay multiple colors of opal in matching earrings and pendants, some with geometric designs, others without. The Navajo, who prefer the larger cuts, highlight the opal gemstone as the centerpiece of the jewelry. When manufacturing pieces of opal jewelry, many tribes use the thinner sliced opals, called opal doublets, which are more affordable. With the proper care, any of the magnificent pieces of opal jewelry will add beauty to the wearer.