In my seventh and final installment of the topic of putting a ring on it without spending a fortune, I wanted to bring to your attention a beautiful and unusual gemstone, the opal.
The opal is October’s birthstone. The gemstone is associated with prosperity in life, whether financial or romantic. Opal is considered the “Queen of Gemstones”. For hundreds of years, if not thousands, nobility presented opals as engagement rings and family gifts. Napoleon proposed to Josephine with an opal engagement ring, and Queen Victorian of England gave each of her children a piece of opal jewelry. If you have a love that you’re worried won’t say yes to your proposal, give her an opal engagement ring—it loosens inhibitions!
When I think of opals, I think of a white round gemstone that shines from the inside with every color of the rainbow. I worked with jewelry for years and never realized that the most valuable opals are black (these also have colors that dance inside). Recently, I also discovered the Fire Opal (from Mexican Volcanoes) with a burnt orange hue and a blue opal that reminds me of the sun dancing on the water.
Opals remind me of romantic movies. The next two rings brought about nostalgia and the desire to pop in a DVD.
http://www.finejewelers.com/jewelry/lab-created-blue-opal/rings/300581.aspx
Do you remember the necklace in the movie Titanic? Well, I swear that this ring must be its sister (or first cousin, at worst). Set in a popular engagement ring setting, this blue opal engagement ring would stun any bride-to-be. I think that the 14K white gold compliments the tones of the opal perfectly; however, the ring is available in yellow gold too.
Click this link for more info.
The Sabrina ring, designed by Gi Hwang for Gemvara, reminds me of the 1955 movie of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn. The movie gives me a warm fuzzy feeling, like the colors of this ring. The .60 carat Fire Opal is set in 14K ROSE gold! The .22 carats of channel set diamonds, set the warm tones even more.
My obsession with opals started in high school. I liked shiny things that changed color under the light. Iridescent clothes, make up with shiny rainbow colors, and my mother’s jewelry box full of these treasures. First I found a star sapphire (a topic for another day), and thought I’d hit the jackpot. Then buried beneath twisted gold chains, I found this yellow gold ring with a white stone that showed every color imaginable. The stone played with the light.
I popped the ring on my middle finger and casually traipsed into the kitchen to see if my mother would notice. I wasn’t very inconspicuous. I kept moving my hand under different lights to watch the colors dance.
“Where’d you find my ring?” she asked. I fibbed about the location. She didn’t care. “It doesn’t fit my fat fingers anymore. You can have it. Just be careful with it.”
I was so excited. The ring lasted exactly 24 hours before the stone cracked in half. Mom forgot to tell me how delicate opals are. I washed my hands under hot water, went searching in the freezer for a treat, and crack!
Ruining my mother’s opal ring provided an excuse for Dad to buy her a new one. This ring survived daily wear working in retail. I learned my lesson and opted for opal earrings. Unless I took a shower and stuck my head in the freezer, I figured I’d be okay. When I began working with jewelry the next year, I loved the month of October because opals surrounded me for an entire month!
Despite the fragility of the opal, I am still an advocate for its use as a budget conscious engagement ring. In over a decade behind the jewelry counter, I have never met a woman who saw an opal and didn’t stop to stare. I am also enamored with the history of the stone. If an opal engagement ring was good enough for Napoleon’s bride, it should be perfect for yours.
http://www.finejewelers.com/jewelry/opal/rings/22883.aspx
This first ring mimics traditional engagement ring styling—a solitary gemstone center set in yellow gold with an accent diamond on either side. Upon a closer examination, you will notice that it offers a little something extra. The accent diamonds of the opal engagement ring are actually set inside hearts carved into the band! Each heart faces the center, bringing the meaning: two hearts coming together as one. If that doesn’t make your fiancée’s heart melt, then I don’t know what will.
This opal engagement ring is available in white or yellow gold (there is no difference in price). The center gemstone is a .75 carat opal. One other feature I love is the price! When I found this ring, it was on sale for $339.99 (48% off)!
Click The Above Image To Buy This Ring
This next ring is unlike any opal ring that I’ve ever seen. Due to the delicate nature of the opal, the gemstones typically are cut into oval or circular shapes. This ring features a heart-shaped opal!
This ring is less expensive than my earlier choice. The ring is sterling silver plated in 14K white gold. The center heart-shaped opal is 2 full carats (!) complimented by over a half-carat of white topaz side stones. I found this ring for almost 50% off too ($159.99). If your bride-to-be wants a fairytale wedding, then this is the ring for her.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING RING!
If you are looking for an usual solitaire, forget about the overdone pink, and check out this flaming hot Fire Opal. Paul Bierker designed the Celtic Sun Ring (oooh! I love the name!) for Gemvara. This ring looks simply amazing. This ring features my recently discovered Fire Opal. The ring would work well as an opal engagement ring, a promise ring, or as a gift for yours truly. Instead of the center stone being flanked by hearts (as in my earlier pick), this ring features the Celtic Trinity Knot.
My husband and I chose this knot to encircle our handmade wedding bands. The Trinity Knot has religious connotations in Christianity, Paganism, and other religions. It also stands for past, present, and future. The knot is never ending, much like love.
As with all Gemvara rings, this design is fully customizable. I love the way yellow gold compliments the .67 carat deep orange Fire Opal. Any woman who like something that is a little different (like me!) would love this ring.
For thousands of years people believed that each type of gemstone possesses unique properties. If you’re worried that your love won’t say yes, present her with an opal engagement ring. You’ll never know if it was the beauty of the opal engagement ring or the opal’s lowering inhibitions that worked. As long as she says, “Yes!” and snatches the ring from your sweaty, shaking hand, does it matter? You can thank me later!
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