8 Opal Jewels to Keep Us Celebrating October’s Birthstone

I love October for a myriad of reasons, but in this moment, I love it the most because I can keep talking about opal, and it’s totally acceptable. I mean, it would probably be acceptable anyway (because who doesn’t love a good opal?), but since it’s actually the month of the gemstone, it’s at least expected. So what is it about opal that we love so much, really? For me, I think it’s because almost all varieties of opal appear to contain some sort of mystical power. I’m a sucker for anything even remotely magical, and it’s that life contained within the stone that is so compelling. Swirling galaxies of color that seem to move with every turn, shining rainbow colors and flecks of brilliance. Some opals sort of look like the earth from above, green islands in a sea of blue. Others are more a multicolor orb: blues, yellows, pinks, and greens shimmering beneath a surface of white. Others are like canned heat, simmering within a sleek cage of red (yes, that would be fire opal). Oh, heck. Why sit here trying to describe it? A picture is worth a thousand—and many more—words. How would you describe the opals featured in these jewels? Speechless? That’s okay, too.

Half moon opal drop earrings in platinum with 8.62 cts. t.w. opal and 2.66 cts. t.w. diamonds by Oscar Heyman, $170,000

Diamond bow-topped pendant in 18k white gold with 12.92 ct. boulder opal and .62 ct. t.w. diamonds by Jye Luxury Collection, price available on request

Drop earrings in platinum with 17.8 cts. t.w. opal, .88 ct. t.w. emerald, and .31 ct. t.w. diamonds by Gem Platinum, price available on request

Swirl ring in 18k Strawberry Gold with a 6.74 ct. Spumoni Opal and .77 ct. t.w. Vanilla Diamonds by Le Vian Couture, $9,547

Open drop earrings in 18k yellow gold with 7.52 cts. t.w. opal and 1.85 cts. t.w. diamonds by Haridra, $10,620

Framed opal necklace with a 29.63 ct. opal, 1.73 ct. rubellite, 7.45 cts. t.w. sapphires, and 2.6 cts. t.w. diamonds by Spark, $41,500

Handcrafted ring in 18k yellow gold with a 4.5 ct. opal, .16 ct. t.w. tsavorites, .56 ct. t.w. sapphires, and .45 ct. t.w. diamonds by Omi Privé, price available on request