Member- nanty7891
- 7 years ago
- Wedding: July 2013
I had always wanted a unique engagement ring – something different from the typical diamond. I think opals are most beautiful gemstones – all the colors of the rainbow and different patterns at every glance.
After discovering my love for opals over diamonds, my fiance chose this ring all on his own. I was completely (but very pleasantly) surprised by his proposal and even more surprised at what a perfect ring he chose to symbolize our commitment to and love for each other!
Here is my engagement ring. It is a pear-shaped, solid, Australian opal (extra-fine quality, .75 carat) in a halo setting of 24 round diamonds (.25 carat). I absolutely LOVE it!!!
I had always known that opals are softer stones and require great care. I had even heard that they are not recommended for everyday wear. However, an opal is still my ideal ring. Soon after getting this ring, I was scared to wear it everyday. I’d only wear it on weekends and out with my fiance, but that made me a little sad. Over the last few months I’ve come to terms with the fact that my opal will not wear as would a harder gemstone. It might chip or even crack and need to replaced in a few years. I still love it and wouldn’t want anything else. Now, I wear and enjoy it everyday…while still taking great care of it. 
Any experiences with opal engagement rings? If so, how have y’all handled the idea of their fragility?
We will probably have a wedding band custom-made to either fit against the rounded side of the ring or to surround the entire ring. We might also even consider a straight band, which I think would look nicer when worn alone. Although, I’m not sure how I feel about having a gap between the rings when I would wear them both… Any thoughts or advice on this would be appreciated. 
