In the realm of jewelry and gemstones, opal and moonstone jewelry are indeed the “two gems”. There has always been a nerve-racking competition between these two gemstones in terms of their alluring appearance and endless beauty while being in the display section of any jewelry outlet.
In some cases, small ornaments such as opal earrings and moonstone earrings, both can have a blue colour and milky shimmer, which can make them appear quite similar if someone lacks basic knowledge about jewelry and gemstones.
However, encountering a situation, wherein you have to cheery pick between opal and moonstone jewelry, can leave you all blank, if you aren’t aware of these basic differences between opal jewelry and moonstone jewelry.
Here is a detailed guide that would assist you in selecting between opal and moonstone.
1. Moonstones are usually clear or white whereas opal comes in a broad colour range
One of the most significant attributes of opal jewelry is its broad range of colours and shades across the spectrum. Some famous colours of opals are Blue, white, black, red and green opal.
These different colours of opal occur due to the silica spheres in the gemstone during its natural formation. Among all, Black opals are the most expensive and the rarest of all and are extensively used as gemstones in opal ring.
On the other hand, moonstone jewelry is always available in white colour or they are completely crystal-clear. This clear appearance makes the moonstone identical to a waterdrop glowing under the moonlight.
This milky, clear finish in moonstone is the result of the inclusion of materials during its formation.
2. Opal jewelry depicts Play-of-Colours whereas Moonstone Jewellery depicts Adularescence
Opal’s play-of-colours and moonstone’s adularescence are their unique, exquisite colour phenomena that occur naturally to them.
In opal, when the light enters within the gemstone and passes through the tiny, microscopic gap that exists between the silica spheres, it gets dispersed into different shades of colours across the spectrum which adds a vibrant touch to the beauty of the gemstone. This phenomenon is known as the Play-of-colour.
Adularescence in moonstone jewelry is caused by the scattering of light, which takes place when it passes through the exsolution lamellae, which acts as a scattering centre point, which gives the gemstone a light bluish hue lustre. This eccentric, but stupendous lighting effect lends moonstone, an ethereal sheen and a unique shimmer.
Both the Play-of-colours and adularescence hold a potent prestige for opal and moonstone respectively.
3. Opal is the October Birthstone whereas Moonstone is the lucky stone for June people
Well, if you want to unleash the real, miraculous powers of these sacred gemstones, then you should keep in mind their associated month while buying either of the two – moonstone jewelry or the opal jewelry.
For those born in October, wearing opal jewelry can bestow them with the divine and supreme powers nature has blessed this gemstone with. Being a symbol of hope, purity and truth, it can enhance good luck, improve health and lead to positivity and peace in the life of the wearer.
Also, opal is considered quite lucky for those with libra as their zodiac sign.
Being an epitome of love and passion, the inexplicable, yet amazing benefits that moonstone bestows upon those born in June are even backed by the Roman and Greek lunar deities as well as the Hindu culture. Wearing moonstones can open the doors of prosperity and peace, passion and positivity and leads to deep intellectual and spiritual growth for such people.
4. Opals are more Expensive and Unique than Moonstone
Opals are way more expensive and far more unique than moonstones.
No two opals would be identical ever, nor would they look alike. This is because opal jewelry is available across a myriad of colours and patterns, which makes any similarity existing between two different opals almost next to impossible.
Average opal jewelry price range somewhere between $1-$135 per carat. Black opal is the most expensive and valuable and can surge to over $1000 per carat.
Although the beauty of moonstone can’t be questioned, still it is considered quite an inexpensive gemstone, or should we quote it as, comparatively more affordable than opal.
The average price of moonstones in the jewelry market will fall between $1-$50 per carat. On the higher side, top-notch quality moonlight jewelry would cost you around $250 per carat. Even if more than that, it would always be less than that of opal jewelry.
5. Moonstones are comparatively stronger than Opals
Well, the only benchmark in which opal falls short of expectations a bit more than moonstone, is the hardness factor.
Opal jewelry is slightly much more gentle and prone to scratches than moonstone jewelry.
On the Mohs scale that demonstrates mineral hardness, opal shows a hardness level that ranges between 5.5-6.5 levels. Whereas, in the case of moonstone, this hardness level was around 6-6.5.
Still, intense heat or light or contact with rough and hard surfaces can drastically harm moonstone and opal.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, these are some basic, yet major differences between opal and moonstone jewelry that will help you to choose consciously between the two:
- Moonstone is usually clear or white whereas opal is available in a broad range of colours
- Moonstone depicts adularescence whereas opal displays play-of-colours
- Moonstone is regarded as the “June birthstone” whereas opal is the “October birthstone”
- Moonstone is comparatively more affordable than opal
- Moonstone is slightly harder than opal
Explore the exquisite jewelry collection, from opal to moonstone jewelry at Rananjay Exports.
