Mike's idea is good, but some opals just crack, some crumble over time. The fiery nature of opal is caused by water (not drops, just very small bits of H2O), inside the rock, and the 'rock' part is silica. The presence of water prevents the silica from actually forming crystals, which would make the rock tougher. If the water content is too small (6-8% is good, less is not)the opal probably won't last long term. As the water goes away, shrinkage cracks appear, and can eventually cause it to fall apart. It's a pretty delicate stone and I wouldn't wear it while cleaning house or even washing dishes. Opals can be stabilized, but I'm not familiar with the process. May be just a coat of epoxy is used. Your best bet is to talk to a jeweler about it. ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Shuler Michael" <grinch42@mindspring.com> Reply-To: grinch42@mindspring.com To: BLACKSHEEP-CHAT-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BSChat] Jewelry Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 9:7:20 -0500 Robin, for any jewelry containing opals, one should take a cotton swab moistened with cooking oil or baby oil about every six months & swab the surface. This will prevent the opals from cracking almost indefinitely (except if it's a ring that you keep on while washing your hands and have an obsessive-compulsive disorder). Tty it...it works. Mike IBSSG > [Original Message] > From: <Robinosborne90@cs.com> > To: <BLACKSHEEP-CHAT-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 4/26/2002 7:18:44 AM > Subject: Re: [BSChat] Jewelry > > In a message dated 4/26/02 12:03:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > jcurtis@redrock.net writes: > > I guess if I have a favorite ring...it's my Fire Opal. It's about 1 inch > > square, with 7 Opals, and little squares of Gold around the Opals. I have > > a > > 3 carat diamond solitaire, and a 4 carat (Emerald cut) surrounded with chip > > diamonds. > > > Fire Opal is my fav and birth stone as well. Soft stone though I lost my > favorite when it somehow crack. Had it re-cut into earrings though. > I have some beautiful jewels too, but it is funny they don't mean what they > used too, I rarely wear my jewelry now either. > When I was in my twenties and thirties had to wear everything. > But my most fav is pearls. I think they are so lovely and have a lot of > them, > no rings, just stands and bracelets. > My daughter could give a hoot now. Maybe later she will enjoy my jewelry. > Just lost of someone took my diamond earrings. I was careless and took > them out and left them out sitting. > Haven't had that happen in over twenty years. I can't stand it when you > can't trust kids or people coming in your home. > Just moved so that won't be happening again. > Robin > TLC IBSSG > > > ==== BLACKSHEEP-CHAT Mailing List ==== > Unsubscribe from the list: > Mailto:Blacksheep-Chat-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=unsubscribe&body=unsub scribe > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 --- Shuler Michael --- grinch42@mindspring.com --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet. ==== BLACKSHEEP-CHAT Mailing List ==== Unsubscribe from the list: Mailto:Blacksheep-Chat-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=unsubscribe&body=unsubscribe ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx