Deep South Opal · Tasmania
Opal & Jewellery Care
Know your opal before cleaning
An opal can become part of your everyday story: a gift, a keepsake, a ring you reach for again. A few gentle habits help protect its beauty. Opal scratches and chips more easily than many familiar gemstones, so how you wear and clean it matters.
Start with the material and construction listed in your piece’s description. Solid opal, doublets, triplets and moisture-absorbing opal need different care. Follow any instructions supplied for your particular piece; if you’re unsure, ask us before cleaning it.
Everyday habits that protect your opal
Put your jewellery on after perfume, moisturiser, sunscreen, hairspray and cosmetics. Take it off before:
- Showering, bathing or swimming
- Exercise, gardening or manual work
- Using household cleaning products
- Sleeping
- Entering a sauna or other hot environment
Keep opal away from hard knocks, rough surfaces and sudden changes in temperature. Rings need particular attention because they meet more hard surfaces than pendants or earrings.
Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, steam cleaner, bleach or harsh jewellery-cleaning solution on opal.
Cleaning solid Australian opal
Gently wipe the stone with a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water. If needed, add a very small amount of mild soap, remove the residue with a clean damp cloth, then dry the piece carefully.
Do not scrub or use abrasive pastes. Solid Australian opal does not need to be stored in water or oil. Check the care instructions for the setting too.
Cleaning doublets & triplets
A doublet has a layer of opal joined to a backing. A triplet also has a clear cap over the opal. These joined layers need protection from moisture, which can affect the adhesive or the stone’s appearance.
Do not soak or immerse them. Wipe briefly with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry straight away. Avoid prolonged humidity and take the piece off before activities involving water.
Ethiopian opal that absorbs moisture
Much Ethiopian opal is hydrophane: porous enough to absorb water and other liquids. This can change how clear the stone looks and how its colour appears. Some changes fade as it dries; others, especially those caused by oils or chemicals, may be lasting.
Keep hydrophane opal away from water, perfume, moisturiser, cleaning products and skin oils where practical. Use only a clean, dry, very soft cloth unless a professional has advised otherwise for that stone.
If it gets wet, let it dry naturally at room temperature. Do not use direct sunlight, a heater or a hairdryer to hurry it along.
Cleaning metals, finishes & leather
Sterling silver can tarnish over time. Use a soft silver-polishing cloth on the metal, taking care not to rub or press against the opal.
Wipe gold-plated finishes, including vermeil, gently with a soft, dry cloth. Abrasive polishing products can wear away the gold layer.
Keep leather cords dry. If a cord becomes damp, let it air-dry naturally. Do not use metal polish or jewellery cleaner on leather.
Storing jewellery & loose stones
Give each piece a place of its own in a pouch or box. Harder gemstones and metal edges can scratch an opal when they rub together. Store pieces away from direct sunlight, high heat, sudden temperature changes and persistently damp conditions.
Fasten chains to reduce tangling and keep heavy objects off jewellery and loose stones. A little space helps protect the details that made you choose them.
Cracks, cloudiness or loose settings
Stop wearing and cleaning a piece if its opal cracks, stays cloudy, loosens in the setting or changes after contact with liquid. Do not try heat, oils, solvents or glue.
Contact Deep South Opal or a qualified jeweller or gemmologist for advice. Tell us what changed and what the stone may have touched; a clear photograph can help.
Instructions supplied for your individual piece take priority over this general guide.