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Of all the delicate gemstones, one that is most commonly worn is ‘Opal’, but it is also the stone that requires you to take special care. With some knowledge you can be sure that your opal will stay beautiful forever, under whatever conditions, over many years.

This blog is in continuation to a previously written blog which discusses very closely about ‘Yellow Opal’ . Let’s just carry on the discussion of 'how to take good care of your opals?'.

Firstly, it is very important to know as to why Opal is regarded as a delicate stone. One reason for which is that is relatively a soft gem, whose hardness varies from 5.5 to 6.5 on Mohs Hardness scale. This is why opals are easily scratched, even by the common household dust particles. Another reason for the same is that they have significant water content, probably 5 to 6%, which is why they develop cracks when kept in very low humidity environment. They are also sensitive to frequent whether changes.

Some categories of opal gemstones have some additional properties of vulnerability. For example, doublets and triplets of opals consist of a layer of precious opal which is glued to a black backing. Since these two layers are glued, prolonged exposure to water can weaken the glue that exists within them and it can also allow water to infiltrate. Opal then turns grayish or foggy in appearance.

Opals that have a slightly solid property should be cleaned properly with a mild detergent in luke warm water, brushing with a brush or cotton cloth.  As far as the doublets and triplets are concerned, they should also cleaned with a cloth in warm water, but never be immersed in water.

The best way to take care of an opal is to keep in mind never to wash it with ultrasonic cleaners. This is because these cleaners produce some intense vibrations that may cause cracks to develop up. If there is a need to store opals for a long period of time, it is highly recommended that you seal it in a plastic bag with a damp piece of cotton so as to prevent dehydration.

A stone that is taken care of stays for long, and once you know all the ways to rake care of it you shouldn’t ever hesitate to implement them. If you love wearing costly and beautiful gemstones, you should know how to take good care of them. And, most of all remember that if you wear an opal ring on daily basis you need to get repolished time to time.