Iridescent Gemstones:

Opals & Moonstones

Iridescent gemstones with their luminous play of ever-changing colours have mesmerised gemstone lovers since the beginning of time. For millennia, the mystical effect of moonstones and opals have intrigued and enticed us – read on to discover more about these fascinating marvels of the natural world.

What is Opal?

The mystical multicoloured glow of opals is caused by the refraction of light through tiny silica spheres trapped inside the stone. When light passes through, rays are refracted into a spectrum of colours, creating a multi-coloured luminosity that shines from the inside out.

Our Opals are from Ethiopia and we know a build-up of dirt or harsh chemicals over time can cause discoloration. However, this can easily be remedied by a regular gentle clean in soapy water.

What is Moonstone?

Moonstone is named so for its moon-like milky, pearlescent quality. Part of the Feldspar group, the moonstone is composed of millions of micro mineral layers – their edges forming a feathering effect. When the stone is tilted, rays of light are caught between multiple planes to create a rainbow spectrum of luminous colours, causing a ‘cats eye’ effect.  

Moonstone enjoys great cultural significance with ancient roots, related to love, travel, healing, and faith.

Looking after your Opals & Moonstones

Opals don't enjoy getting wet. Avoid contact with or fully submerging them in water.

Keep out direct sunlight for long periods of time as it can cause some opals to discolour.

Please avoid contact with any perfumes, body lotions, hand creams or moisturisers.

Remove when cleaning to avoid a reaction with any chemicals in your cleaning products.

Take off your jewellery when showering, bathing or swimming.

Cleaning your jewellery with a soft polishing cloth to remove any dirt.