Both the Diamond and the Opal are rare gemstones sourced from the earth’s crust and globally used for making jewelry accessories worldwide but the problem arises when people ask Is Opal Jewelry better than Diamond? So, without stretching this conversation let’s directly come to the discussion and see if Opal Jewelry is really better than Diamond or not.
Diamond and the Ethiopian Opal — both have their own unique qualities and characteristics but the choice depends on various other factors such as the beauty, symbolism, durability, and the most important that is “cost”.
Let’s break it down……
Beauty & Elegance
→ Opal: Ethiopian Opals are widely popular and known for their stunning appearance, unique play of color, where you can see colors shifting and changing as you pass light through it from different angles. It seems like a tiny rainbow captured in a small stone making it a highly distinctive and preferable choice for the jewelry.
And the stand out point is No Two Opals are similar to each other, so every Opal will give you an Unique experience to vibe fiery color play look.
→ Diamond: Talking about the beauty then Diamond is no less than Opals. Diamonds are renowned for their clarity, sparkling look, and fire reflecting a dispersion of light into various colors. Its timeless beauty and classic look makes them a symbol of luxury, brand, commitment, and status.
Durability
→ Opal: Opals are soft and very fragile in nature around 5.5 - 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale which is half as compared to Diamond. Because of their fragile nature, these gemstones are very prone to scratches, tarnishing, and breaking. These Gems are also sensitive to heat and chemicals.
→ Diamond: Diamonds are known as the hardest substance on the earth with a 10 Mohs on scale, making them an incredible choice for durability and safe choice of jewelry from scratches. This is why diamonds are more preferred for engagement rings and fine Jewelry for everyday wear.
Symbolism
→ Opal: Opal is believed as the symbol of Love, positive energies, creativity, Inspiration, and personal transformation. Also, Opals are known as the October Birthstone making them a perfect gemstone for those born in this month.
→ Diamond: Diamonds are traditionally renowned as the symbol of eternal love, commitment, strength making them the first choice for engagement rings and proposals or gifts for loved ones. Additionally, diamonds are said to be a symbol of luxury and high status in society.
Rarity
→ Opal: Some Opals such as the Black Ethiopian Opals are relatively higher quality than Diamond and are not as common as them. But still these black opals are abundant to get than the Diamonds.
→ Diamond: Diamonds are rarer in nature, especially the large and flawless ones and due to its rarity and mining process, these have a direct influence on higher cost.
Cost
→ Opal: Generally Opals are less expensive than Diamonds. However, some factors such as rarity, origin, quality, and its fiery color play may have an influence on increasing its price. For eg. Black Australian Opal costs higher than other opals.
→ Diamond: Diamonds are expensive and cost higher than the Opal and some factors such as Carat weight, Cut, color, and clarity has an influence on its cost rise. These gemstones are ideal for high value investment in consideration to high quality stones.
Care and Maintenance
→ Opal: As we discussed above, Opals are fragile and soft in nature so these require special care and maintenance. Sudden exposure to climate, temperature change, and applying chemicals such as perfume or cleaning may lead to damage. You need to clean it with soft cloth to prevent it from scratching.
→ Diamond: Diamonds are easier to carry everywhere without much risk of damage or scratches. You can clean Diamond with soap and water as well, and because of their durability, they are less likely to suffer damage for everyday activities.
Which one is better —Diamond or Opal?
If you want a piece for an engagement or wedding that will withstand daily wear for a long time, and if you want to show luxury and status, then choose a diamond.
But if you want a jewellery piece that’s unique, shows off colour-play, sparks creativity and makes you stand out — and you don’t intend to wear it daily — then choose opal jewellery.
I hope this short blog helped you gain clarity on the question: ‘Is opal jewellery better than diamond jewellery? If you found it useful, I’d love to hear which gemstone you prefer and why — feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
