Post # 1
Member
25 posts
Newbee
So my I recently found out that my partner has bought an engagement ring for me and I am really excited to be engaged! But I also found out that the ring is vintage and the main stone is an opal. I don’t know much else about the ring but I am worried because I know opals can be very fragile and aren’t good for everyday wear. I am the type of person who never takes my rings off, even for sleeping a showering. I could of course change my behavior to protect my new opal ring, but I’m wondering if I will still risk breaking the opal by wearing it every day.
Should I look into getting a second more robust engagement ring to wear every day and just save the opal for special occasions? And if so how can I bring this up to my soon-to-be fiance without causing any hurt feelings. I do love opals and I know I will just love the ring, but I don’t want to end up breaking it!
Post # 2
Member
2697 posts
Sugar bee
Opal is VERY soft, I wouldn’t recommend for everyday wear.
Post # 3
Member
1982 posts
Buzzing bee
I wouldn’t wear it everyday. It’s a very fragile stone that breaks down after time. Mydad got my mom an opal stone ring in high school. It’s beautiful, but she can’t wear it anymore because she could risk losing the stone.
Post # 4
Member
25 posts
Newbee
Thank you, that’s what I was afraid. My future fiance does not know much about jewelry or stone hardness so I’m sure he had no idea he was picking out such a delicate ring. I know he has already purchased it, but I cannot see it yet. I just know that it is vintage, opal, and yellow gold since I told him I wanted to know generally what the ring was going to look like. I am really worried that he wont understand if I try to explain to him that I don’t want to wear the ring every day. I don’t want him to think that I don’t like it because I’m not wearing it. I also don’t want to be without an egagement ring so I would like to have something more durable to wear all of the time. Since he already bought me one ring I have no problem buying the second one for myself, I just don’t want his feelings to be hurt.
Post # 5
Member
335 posts
Helper bee
For what it’s worth, my mom had an opal (and yellow gold) engagement ring. When she married my dad, she moved it to her right hand. She’s worn it every day for the last 42 years and it still looks great.
Post # 6
Member
25 posts
Newbee
professorplum: Thanks for your input. I know other people have stories of mothers and grandmothers wearing opals for many years successfully, but then I also have read stories of people knocking their rings against a desk once and chipping the opal. I already wear a gemstone ring on my ring hand and I know that I knuck it quite a bit, its a garnet which is stronger than an opal but it still has scratches and some tiny chips from me knocking it a lot.
Post # 7
Member
9520 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I think @Bridey77 had an opal one before her current ring.
Post # 8
Member
15 posts
Newbee
wonderous: My bff has an opal e-ring, and her SO proposed to her in 2010. She’s been wearing it every day/night for 5 years with zero problems (I recently asked her about it, since I was curious about the durability of opal myself – it’s my birthstone, and so lovely!) It’s totally up to you, but I imagine it might be fine? Maybe you could get a more durable stone as an “upgrade” on a future anniversary? Good luck whatever you decide 🙂
Post # 9
Member
246 posts
Helper bee
an opal is something like 6/10 hardness. for daily wear an e-ring gets you should be looking towards 8 and up. some opals called something like ‘boulder’ opal are a little stronger, but still not quite there. (i also looked into them as an ering, so i’m trying to remember everything i found out.) my sister had an opal ring she smacked on a headboard (yup haha) and it shattered. i would cry if that was my ering!!
you never know though, i have some opals in my family (basically heirlooms) that look great.
Post # 10
Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
I find that the truth is always best. Do some online research on the softness/hardness of Opals and share them with your S/O. You are not saying you don’t want the ring, your are only providing information. A informed decision is the best decision. At a minimum, you will know if you can wear it every day based on facts. Here is a good place to start.
http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/opal/opal-info.php
Post # 11
Member
531 posts
Busy bee
My great grandmother had an opal engagement ring. She wore the ring constantly and when she passed my grandmother wore It. It’s been worn day and night for like, 80 years and the opal has been replaced once or twice to my knowledge.
Post # 12
Member
558 posts
Busy bee
It sounds beautiful. Personally I would just see how it goes and replace it later if you need to.
Post # 13
Member
3075 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: April 2013 - A court...
Maybe if you were really careful? But since it’s vintage idk if I would take the risk. I had opal earrings that I wore often (not every day) and somehow one of them cracked! They lasted a good year though.
Post # 14
Member
6379 posts
Bee Keeper
wonderous: Gorgeous stone but short the long term durability it won’t last as long. I’d get an alternative ring to wear to last over time
Post # 15
Member
2320 posts
Buzzing bee
I have a vintage opal ring that I wear as a RHR everyday. It’s a lovely big opal in white gold.
I wear it literally doing everything (don’t take it off to wash dishes etc), and I have since I inherited it ten years ago. I’ve never had a single crack or issue. I think people over estimate how soft they are.