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Home » October’s Birthstone is Opal! A Few Ideas…

October’s Birthstone is Opal! A Few Ideas…

September 22, 2017

 

Opals are difficult – I think before you spend a lot of money on one, you’re going to want to do your homework! That said, I’m the last person to throw rocks at you if you choose to wear a fake… life’s too short for me to judge anybody on the basis of their stones…

 

black shirtdress with blue opal earrings and blue accessories

scarf – Acne Studios; dress – Lands’ End; earrings – Melissa Joy Manning; ring – Ippolita; shoes – Munro; tote – Burberry

It’s worth remembering that opals come in all sorts of colors…

camel dress with green opal jewelry

necklace – Ela Rae; clutch – Judith Leiber; dress – Ralph Lauren Black Label; earrings – Five and Two; bracelet – Lionette NY; pumps – Michael Kors

You don’t need to wear a million pieces of jewelry, if the ones that you DO wear are lovely. (and if you handbag is completely amazing…)

charcoal dress with rose pearl jewelry

earrings – Tiberio González; bracelet – Sandra and Lily; dress – Uniqlo; pumps – Nina; scarf – Nordstrom; bag – Acrata

These earrings would be really flattering – that luminous blush color near your face would look good on anyone.

brown dress with rose opal jewelry and rose accessories

earrings – Vanhi; scarf – Echo; dress – Uniqlo; ring – Five and Two; bag – Nina; pumps – Trotters

There are opals that come in this color, but these are frankly fake. But if you like them (and if you have matching shoes!) you needn’t apologize to anyone.

bright orange faux opal jewelry with a bright navy dress

earrings – Kendra Scott; brooch – Kenneth Jay Lane; bracelet – Céline; dress – L.L.Bean; clutch – Whiting & Davis; slingback pumps – Anne Klein

If I owned this necklace, I’d re-do my entire wardrobe to show it off – although I wouldn’t really have any money left! But it might be worth it…

lavender blue opal necklace worn with an olive green dress

earrings – Gorjana; dress – Lands’ End; necklace – Irene Neuwirth;  bag – Judith Leiber; flats – Botkier

When people ask you if you’re not afraid to wear opals because they’re “bad luck,” just look at them as if they’re the kind of person who believes that inanimate objects have power over you… Sort of like the way I look at people who ask why I don’t wear high-heels…

love,
Janice

More from the Birthstone Series:

  • January: Garnets
  • February: Amethyst
  • March: Aquamarines
  • April: Diamonds
  • May: Emeralds
  • June: Pearls
  • July: Carnelian
  • August: Peridot
  • September: Sapphires
  • October: Opals
  • November: Topaz or Citrine
  • December: Turquoise or Tanzanite
October's Birthstone is Opal! A Few Ideas...

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09.22.17 8 Comments

Tags: jewelry
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Comments

  1. Catherine says

    September 22, 2017 at 10:54 am

    No way are opals difficult. They are my birthstone andsuit my complexion too. I bought a beautiful large opal and diamond dress ring secondhand from a jewellery store years ago. A real bargain and I have no aversion to second hand jewellery. Great outfits today too. I particularly like the L.L. Bean dress. It that a US make? If so I will have a look for it on my Florida trip next month. I'm all sorted for my formal too so thank you to everyone for the help.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      October 8, 2017 at 8:43 pm

      Nope, NOT made in the US. Very few pieces of clothing are, anymore. I wish more would – I'd cheerfully feature them!
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  2. Scottie says

    September 22, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Opals = beautiful AND I've been lusting after the sweater dress at LLBean

    Reply
  3. Jane says

    September 22, 2017 at 3:35 pm

    I didn't know opals are considered bad luck? My mother claimed they were fragile. She had a beautiful, firey blue stone.

    Reply
  4. Duchesse says

    September 23, 2017 at 11:58 am

    And I would say life is too short to wear fake opals- the opal family is so large that there is something at every price point, from black opal (can easily be more per carat than diamond) to those that cost less than a restaurant lunch. Also, opals are among the least convincing fakes.
    Here is a list of the opal family (among other gems): https://www.gemsociety.org/gemstone-family-tree/

    Reply
  5. Sherry says

    September 24, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    I just tell those people that high heels are a conspiracy by men to make women helpless. Of course they could be a weapon.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    September 24, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    I have had my real opal for over forty years and worn it in places as wild as remote South and Central American jungles. I'd heard, too, that it was fragile, but have worn it all my working life and beyond. I still get compliments on it. It looks as new as the day I bought it.

    It's lovely to see dresses again.

    Honey Bee

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    September 24, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    My birthstone is opal, and they are considered "bad luck" only to those who have a different birthstone. I have been wearing them forever without needing to wear pastels or pink or baby blue. I wear warm colors, and my opals go with them just fine.

    Reply

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