Caring For Your Opals

Here at An Atom Of Earth, I educate on the care of opals because it is important to ensure that the gemstones are protected from damage. Opals are delicate and can crack or craze if not properly cared for, so it's important to educate opal lovers on how to protect them from scratches, temperature changes and chemicals. Additionally, some opals are hydrophane, so they can dry out and crack if not properly cared for, by educating opal lovers on how to properly care for their opals, they will be able to enjoy the beauty & ensure your gorgeous opals last a lifetime Here are a few steps that I like to take. (Trust Me, The Beauty Is Worth It)

1) Ensure Your Ethiopian Opals Are Not Close to Water and Liquids.

The “hydrophane” nature of Ethiopian Opals means they are strongly attracted to water. They absorb water like a sponge on contact. If you leave your opals in water, they will draw in the water and lose their play of color. The color also changes to brown or yellow But you can regain the original color by completely drying the opals. The timeframe for drying might be minutes or even weeks, depending on the amount of water they have absorbed. 

2) Avoid Exposing Your Opals to Very High-Temperature Changes.

The tag “living gems” given to opals is not by accident; Ethiopian opals actually soak up liquids! Ethiopian Opals can only handle mid-temperature changes. So if your opals ever get to absorb water or any liquid, leave them to dry naturally rather than using a hairdryer or hot light to hasten the process. This will ensure they 100% regain their play of color. (Dry climates are best) 

3) Keep Your Ethiopian Opals Away from Liquid Chemicals.

"Hydrophane" comes from the greek word meaning "water loving"  Ethiopian Opals are naturally “thirsty” for liquids Including soaps, perfumes, cleaning products, even sweat! If there is contact between these liquids and your Ethiopian opals, they become stained and lose their color. The solution is to wash the opals with acetone or warm water, wipe clean with a soft cloth, and finally leaving them to dry naturally. 

4) Do Not Use a Steamer or Ultrasonic Cleaner on Your Opals.

Unlike some gemstone jewelry that can be cleaned using ultrasonic cleaners, Ethiopian opals are too fragile for such a cleaning process. To prevent a possible crack, do not use an ultrasonic cleaner. Instead, wipe the opals clean with a soft cloth. 

5) Do Not Wear Your Opals When Doing Manual Labor. 

Ethiopian Opals have moderate hardness and toughness, with a 5.5-6.5 rating on Mohs scale of hardness. They are less tough than quartz (7 rating) and emeralds (7.5-8 rating) but tougher than pearls and corals (3-4 rating). If you are about to handle tough tasks, take off your opal bracelets and rings. While this may seem like a huge sacrifice, it is definitely worth it if you want to preserve the beauty of your gems.

*When you aren't wearing your opal, it's always a good idea to store your Opal in a closed area where it's not being exposed to natural dust settling in the air. Clean your opal with a dry cloth and store it away to avoid to staining the opal.

Follow these steps and your gems will be heirlooms!