Opal is soft, and it holds water
Opal contains water, which is part of why it plays colour the way it does. It is also why heat, sudden temperature change and harsh cleaning are the things most likely to spoil one. A crazed opal — fine lines across the surface — is usually the result of drying out, and it cannot be undone.
So an opal piece gets planned rather than rushed. Very often the stone comes out, the metalwork is done, and it goes back.
What comes in most
- A loose opal in a bezel or a prong setting.
- Ring sizing, with the stone removed first where that is the safer route.
- A chipped edge — sometimes the setting can be adjusted to cover it.
- A replacement opal matched for colour and play, when one is beyond saving.
- Doublets and triplets, which are layered and must stay out of water and ultrasonic.
- Resetting a stone into a pendant, which treats an opal more kindly than a ring does.
Keep it out of the ultrasonic
No ultrasonic, no steam, no hot water. That is the whole care instruction for opal and it is worth knowing, because a lot of damaged opals were damaged at a kitchen sink rather than on a bench.
A ring is a hard life for an opal
Hands knock things. If you have an opal you love and it keeps getting chipped, the honest conversation is about a pendant or a setting that protects the edges. Bring it in and we will talk about it.
Bring it in and we will look at it
Every piece is different and opal especially so. Put it on the counter, tell us what has happened, and we will tell you what we see and what we would do about it. You decide from there, before anything is agreed.
Questions we get asked
Can an opal ring be sized?
Yes, usually with the stone out first. Bring it in and we will tell you what we would do.
Can I clean my opal in an ultrasonic?
No. No ultrasonic, no steam, no hot water. That is the main rule with opal.
My opal has fine cracks across it — can that be fixed?
That is crazing and it cannot be reversed, but a replacement can be matched. Bring it in and we will look.
Can an opal be reset into a pendant?
Yes, and a pendant is a much gentler life for an opal than a ring.
Will you tell me what you find before doing any work?
Always. We look at it with you at the counter, tell you what we see, and you decide.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.