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URI mentioned that Opals contain water. But there is another water related problem that the jewellery industry rarely warns you about, and it comes down to geography.
A lot of the inexpensive, high brightness opal on the market from Ethiopia is hydrophane, which means it is porous enough to absorb water and other liquids. When that happens, the stone can temporarily lose its play of colour and turn duller or more transparent until it dries out again. In some cases the colour returns after days or weeks. But oils, lotions, and other contaminants can cause more persistent changes.
That’s one reason I generally prefer Australian opals. They’re non-hydrophane. They don’t absorb water like a sponge. They still need to be protected from impacts and extreme temperatures, but they won’t punish you just for washing your hands.
@urban.sterling
