[Jewelry making - Article 00256] - Re: [Orchid] Incorporating opal

[Jeanette Baugh]

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>     Any GG's out there who can elaborate on the opal drying out
>     scenario? 

    Well, I'm reviewing my Colored Stones phamplets in preparation for
    the GG exam in August after I finish Diamond Grading, soooo...From
    GIA's Colored Stones 19 Opal copyright 2001 pg 21: 

    "If an opal loses moisture, it can lead to crazing: a fine network of
    cracks that resembles a spider's web. The moisture loss can be caused
    by heat or excessive dryness, or by exposure to bright light or
    direct sunlight. Crazing can be prevented by never displaying opals
    in places - such as window displays - where they're exposed to these
    conditions." From GEMSTONES of the world by Walter Schumann
    translated from German reprinted 1986, page 150: "Opal always
    contains water: the content varies but it can be as much as 30%. It
    can happen that in the course of time, the stone loses water, cracks
    and the opalescence diminishes. This can, at least temporarily, be
    restored by saturation with oil or water. The aging process is
    avoided and the opalescence increased when storing in moist absorbent
    cotton" 

    At the Tarheel Gem and Mineral Club meetings, where we have owners in
    a Nevada Opal mine, there is debate over whether to store opal in
    water or let it dry out before cutting. After purchasing a piece of
    opal jewelry, a person needs to take care not to store it in a dry
    environment (like a bank vault or safety box). Regional climate would
    also have an effect. Helen is in a relatively high humidity area, but
    the advent of air-conditioning has made inside the home environment
    of the average US southeast home a very dry climate (wood chair rails
    come loose as the glue dries out) so I like Schumann's idea of
    storing opal with some supplied water - now we just have to be
    careful of mold!) jeanette (back to the books...)
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