Your opal is alive—and that's exactly what makes caring for it so easy
Caring for your opal properly is easier than its reputation suggests—there's really only one thing you need to know: how your stone feels about water. The rest is common sense.
Cleaning, wearing, storing—step by step, honest, and myth-free. Including the subtle difference between Australian opal and Ethiopian Welo opal, which decides everything when it comes to water.
How delicate is an opal, really?
Less delicate than most people think. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.5, opal sits solidly in the middle of the scale—robust enough for everyday wear. Its quirk isn't fragility but water: depending on the type, an opal contains roughly 3 to 21% water. If it dries out too quickly or too much, it can turn dull or, in extreme cases, develop fine cracks.
That sounds like a lot of caution, but it isn't. Once you know opal's two or three real enemies—ultrasonic cleaners, heat shocks, and hard knocks—you've already gotten almost everything right. Normal, mindful wearing takes care of the rest.
Welo opal or Australian opal—what's the difference?
This is the most important question in all of opal care, because it settles the water question. Australian opals are stable and don't absorb water. Ethiopian Welo opals are hydrophane—they soak up water like a sponge, briefly turn milky and translucent, and only get their fire back as they dry.
Australian opal
Hydrophobic and stable. It handles brief contact with water without any trouble and stays relaxed during cleaning.
Welo opal (Ethiopia)
Hydrophane—it absorbs water. Wet, it briefly looks milky; dry, the fire returns. That's why you should never soak it.
Not sure which type you have? When in doubt, treat your opal like a Welo opal: wipe it briefly with a damp cloth instead of soaking it. That harms neither of the two—but protects the more sensitive one.
How do you clean your opal step by step?
Here's how to do it right, in five simple steps. That's all it takes—and definitely no ultrasonic cleaner.
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Prepare lukewarm water
A small bowl of lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap. No hot water, no harsh cleaners.
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Wipe gently
Go over the stone carefully with your fingers or a soft, lint-free cloth. No brush, no scrubbing.
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Rinse briefly with clear water
Only rinse an Australian solid opal briefly under lukewarm water. Don't rinse a Welo opal—just wipe it with a damp cloth.
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Pat dry
Pat gently with a soft, dry cloth—don't rub.
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Let it air-dry
Let it dry briefly in the open air before wearing it again or putting it away. Done.
What damages an opal—and what surprisingly doesn't?
The good news first: most everyday things are no problem at all. It only gets dangerous with a handful of clear enemies.
Heat & temperature swings
Saunas, radiators, blazing sun, or hot water can dry the stone out and trigger fine cracks (crazing).
Chemicals & cosmetics
Perfume, hairspray, creams, cleaning products, and chlorine attack the surface and the shine. Always put your jewelry on last.
Hard knocks
At Mohs 5.5–6.5, opal is sensitive to impacts and scratches. Better to take it off for sports, cleaning, or gardening.
Never: ultrasonic or steam cleaners
Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are the most common cause of destroyed opals. The vibration and heat can shatter a solid opal—and in a doublet or triplet, the water that gets in dissolves the glue holding the thin opal layer. The stone then clouds over beyond repair.
This also applies at the jeweler's: say explicitly that opal is involved before any jewelry goes into an ultrasonic bath.
What surprisingly does NOT cause damage: an Australian solid opal handles hand-washing and brief contact with water just fine. Daily wear doesn't hurt either—on the contrary, the natural moisture of your skin actually does the stone good. Just avoid chlorinated and salt water (pool, ocean).
How do you store your opal the right way?
Soft and separate is best. Keep opal jewelry in a padded compartment or pouch, away from harder stones like diamond, sapphire, or clear quartz, which could scratch it.
The room climate matters too: don't store your opal long-term in a bone-dry environment—so no months in a safe with desiccant, and not right next to a radiator. Normal room air is ideal. And the best part: an opal that's worn regularly stays beautiful the longest.
Your opal looks dull? Here's how the shine comes back
A dull opal almost always has one of two causes: fine scratches on the surface or—with Welo opals—absorbed water.
If a Welo opal looks milky, nothing is broken: just let it rest for a day or two in room air, and its fire returns on its own. If it's real scratches, or the shine has grown dull over time, only professional repolishing by a jeweler or goldsmith will help—and that should only be done with the right polishing compounds.
The same Welo opal, wet and dry again—a natural effect, not damage.
The oiling myth: you often read that opals should be oiled to keep them from drying out. On cut, polished jewelry opals, this does nothing and can leave residue. Skip it—proper storage is all it takes.
Your opal care checklist
Get everything right in 5 points
Easy to remember: your opal is always the first thing you take off and the last thing you put on.
Authenticity you can rely on
Good care is only worth it for a real opal. That's why every piece from Liberty Angels comes with our GSB certificate: linked online to each order, making it forgery-proof. You know exactly what you're caring for—genuine opal in 925 sterling silver or 14K gold.
Discover your favorite opal
Well cared for, an opal will stay with you for generations. Find your favorite piece of genuine opal:
Opal necklaces
Pendants that catch the light.
Discover →
Opal rings
Your play of color for every day.
Discover →
Opal earrings
Sparkle that goes wherever you go.
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Opal bracelets
Play of color around your wrist.
Discover →Frequently asked questions about opal care
Can an opal get wet?
An Australian solid opal handles brief contact with water just fine, such as when washing your hands. Don't soak an Ethiopian Welo opal—it absorbs water and temporarily turns milky. Avoid chlorinated and salt water with any opal.
Can I clean my opal in an ultrasonic bath?
No, absolutely not. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners can shatter solid opals and dissolve the glue in doublets and triplets. Always clean by hand only, with lukewarm water and mild soap.
What's the best way to clean an opal ring?
Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap, a gentle wipe with your fingers or a soft cloth, a brief rinse with clear water (solid opal only), then pat dry. No brush, no abrasive cleaner.
Why is my Welo opal turning milky?
Because it's hydrophane and absorbs water. That's not damage: let it rest for a day or two in normal room air, and its play of color returns on its own.
Do I need to oil my opal?
No. On cut jewelry opals, oiling does nothing and can leave residue. Proper storage in normal room air is all it takes.
Why has my opal turned dull?
Usually because of fine scratches or—with Welo opals—absorbed water. Have scratches repolished by a jeweler; a milky Welo opal clears up on its own as it dries.
Can I wear opal jewelry every day?
Yes, and you should—regular wear does the stone good. Just take it off before sports, housework, showering, and swimming, and keep it away from perfume and hairspray.
How do I store opal jewelry?
Softly padded and separate from harder stones that could scratch it. Don't store it bone-dry long-term—normal room air is ideal.
More from the Opal Lexicon: the Welo opal from Ethiopia, how to identify a real opal, what your opal is really worth, and all opal types at a glance.
