Opal – The Stone of a Thousand Colors

No gemstone in the world plays with light quite like the opal. Red, green, blue, and gold dance in its depths – sometimes all at once, sometimes in gentle waves. The Romans called it Opalus – the stone that carries all colors within it.

What is an Opal?

Opal is not a crystal like a diamond or ruby – it consists of microscopic silica spheres arranged in regular patterns. When light hits this structure, it is diffracted and split into all the colors of the rainbow. This phenomenon is called opalescence – and it's what makes opals so magical.

No two opals are alike. Each stone is a unique work of natural art.

The Most Important Types of Opal

Boulder Opal – The king of opals. It grows in ironstone rock in Queensland, Australia. The natural ironstone backing makes every boulder opal unique and gives it a special depth. At Gallardos-Design, we work with boulder opals with particular passion.

Black Opal – The rarest and most valuable opal. The colors glow particularly intensely against a dark background. Primarily found in Lightning Ridge, Australia.

White Opal – The classic opal with a light base tone. More elegant and accessible than black opals, but just as fascinating in its play of colors.

Crystal Opal – Transparent to translucent, with a vibrant play of colors. Particularly sought after when the play of colors shines evenly in all directions.

Australia – the Land of Opals

Around 95% of all opals in the world come from Australia. Places like Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, and Queensland are the legendary opal fields of the world. Victor and Elias Gallardo personally travel to these regions to select the most beautiful stones directly from the source.

Why Opal Jewelry is So Special

Opal is a living stone – it changes with the light, with the angle, with the time of day. An opal ring in the morning looks different than in the evening. This makes it a companion that never gets boring.

In many cultures, opal is considered a stone of creativity, inspiration, and passion. It is said to sharpen the senses and ignite the imagination.

Proper Opal Care

Opal contains water – up to 20% of its weight. This makes it more delicate than other gemstones:

• Do not store opal jewelry in dry heat (not on a sunny windowsill)
• Avoid contact with chemicals such as perfume or cleaning agents
• Clean gently with a soft, damp cloth
• For long-term storage, keep with a small, damp cotton ball
• Absolutely avoid ultrasonic cleaners

With a little care, an opal piece of jewelry will accompany you for a lifetime.

Handcrafted Opal Jewelry at Gallardos-Design

Our opal rings and opal pendants are handcrafted – each stone carefully set in a mounting that optimally showcases its unique play of colors. No piece leaves our atelier without personal inspection.

Discover our Opal Collection →

Gallardos-Design – Handcrafted gemstone jewelry from Switzerland. For over 40 years.