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Opals, Unlucky or just superstition?

(22 Posts)
NickyD47 Tue 28-Feb-17 17:49:44

I have inherited an opal ring from a friend whose life was clouded with tragedy. Shall I keep it?
Do other Gransnetters have a view?

BlueBelle Tue 28-Feb-17 17:55:30

It's a ring how can it hurt you ....if you believe in such stuff strongly then give it away it's nonsense to think a ring can bring you good or bad luck

MawBroon Tue 28-Feb-17 18:09:08

My engagement ring, 5 blue opals, came from Portobello Road market 49 years ago. We celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary this summer.
Yep, clearly cursed gringrin
In the nicest possible way, don't be silly ??

M0nica Tue 28-Feb-17 18:19:08

I love opals, I have three opal rings, which I wear constantly. Opals got their 'unlucky' reputation because they shrink and expand in heat and cold so have to be fixed in the setting very thoroughly otherwise they may fall out and be lost/break. I have had to replace two opals because they fell out and broke.

People have transferred this problem with the stones to their owners and it is utter bunkum. My life has had all the usual ups and downs and occasional tragedy, none of them having anything to do with my choice of rings.

Ana Tue 28-Feb-17 18:21:59

How do you tell the difference between mother-of-pearl and opal? I have an inherited pendant with a centre stone (flattish) and have never been sure.

TriciaF Tue 28-Feb-17 18:39:44

My engagement ring with my ex was an opal, and the marriage wasn't happy. But I'd chosen it myself, and still think it's a beautiful stone.
I don't think you should go along with these superstitions. Other things cause your life to go wrong (or not).

NickyD47 Tue 28-Feb-17 18:41:13

Thank you all. I'm not superstitious in any way but was interested to hear other's stories.

Ana Tue 28-Feb-17 18:50:11

I've googled and am pretty sure the stone in my pendant is mother-of-pearl, but I certainly wouldn't have cared if it had been an opal.

BlueBelle Tue 28-Feb-17 18:54:10

Opal and mother of pearl look quite different mother of pearl is more milky looking. Opal has many colours within it almost iridescent looking
My opal engagement ring brought forth a very unhappy marriage but that was nothing to do with the ring more human behaviour

LadyGracie Tue 28-Feb-17 18:55:00

My mother left me a beautiful opal ring, I've always loved opals, but I feel wary wearing it hmm

whitewave Tue 28-Feb-17 19:49:29

Opals are supposed to be fine to wear if they are your birth stone.

Rinouchka Tue 28-Feb-17 19:59:00

Opals are said to change colour according to the wearer. Folklore therefore makes it a sentient stone. I have beautiful drop opal earrings and when I wear them, they are one shade but when one of my DDs wears them, they change shade completely.

Are they portents of bad luck? I think that is a superstition but if the owner is weary of the stone, it is best to get rid of it, just for peace of mind.

PoshGran Tue 28-Feb-17 20:33:02

I inherited a good quality diamond & opal brooch & had the stones reset in a ring. It looks stunning & the subtle colour shifts in changing light are often commented on.

I remember fondly the original owner who lived a long & happy life - opal was not her birth stone, nor is it mine! (Diamonds are though! grin)

If you're at all unsure about it - let someone else enjoy it. wink

rosesarered Tue 28-Feb-17 20:51:31

It's just a stone innit?

rosesarered Tue 28-Feb-17 20:53:02

Please send all unwanted opals to me C/O GNHQ. smile

Lewlew Tue 28-Feb-17 21:01:05

I bought myself an opal gypsy ring, with blue sapphires on each side. (Sort of like the image at this link)

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/71/1e/cb/711ecb30ac58126ecfa85b9ba5e98d1b.jpg

I wanted it as DH's BD and our wedding date is October opan, and my BD is September sapphire.

That was to be the whole thing...wedding band/engagement ring. Didn't want two.

Stupid me, I didn't know opals cracked at temperature changes...and kept it on all the time, washing up, hot...code, ice trays...then I bumped it and it shattered. sad

He gave me his late mum's eternity band, white sapphires/blue sapphires to wear till we moved back to the US when I got it fixed His mum's band sort of looked like the link below, but more subtle and not that posh.

bios.weddingbee.com/pics/114075/Custom-Yellow-Gold-Blue-Sapphire-and-Diamond-Wedding-Band-by-Whiteflash-30230.jpg

I had a white sapphire put in vs another opal for my ring. He liked the two bands together so much he convinced me to wear both...twenty five years later... YES! The anniversary is this year. And I wear them all the time, except for DIY and gardening.

kittylester Tue 28-Feb-17 21:02:12

I have 2 opal rings, an opal pin and an opal bracelet. I love them. The problem i think is that they are a bit delicate.

My mother had a beautiful diamond and opal engagement ring which she sold when she decided it was the cause of all her problems.

whitewave Tue 28-Feb-17 21:03:29

Oh I have an eternity band just like that!!! I don't wear mine all the time though.

whitewave Tue 28-Feb-17 21:04:06

lewlew

Welshwife Tue 28-Feb-17 21:11:18

I had a lovely opal ring - large oval stone surrounded by small ones. It was a fiery opal and changed colour depending how I was - it went pale if I was not well whereas it was lovely deep vibrant colours normally. I never wore it to do any jobs in the house and was careful with the hot/cold business.

absent Tue 28-Feb-17 21:19:29

Just for the record, emeralds are easily broken too.

chelseababy Tue 28-Feb-17 21:19:31

I have two opal rings. I'm not superstitious but anyway I was born in October. This has reminded me I haven't worn them for a while.