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How to Care for a Man-made Opal Ring

Man-made opal rings are quite beautiful, bearing a close resemblance to natural opal with iridescent rainbow markings. Synthetic opal rings are sometimes made using a man-made glass called Slocum stone, spheres of silica, or mixtures of natural opal chips and colored glass. Unlike natural opal rings, man-made opal rings are made in laboratories and don't contain water. There is little danger that the man-made opal ring will dry out and crack--a dangerous possibility for natural opal rings. Follow a few basic maintenance steps to care for a man-made opal ring.

Things You'll Need

Water
Vinegar
Soap
Soft-bristle toothbrush
Silk or cotton cloth
Jewelry pouch

Instructions

- 1
  Keep man-made opal rings away from direct heat and sunlight, which can damage the materials used to create the synthetic opal.
- 2
  Avoid exposing the man-made opal ring to chemicals, including jewelry-cleaning fluid. Chemicals can damage or discolor synthetic opal. Instead, use water mixed with vinegar or gentle soap. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to lightly scrub or buff the ring and synthetic opal gemstone. Carefully rinse with water.
- 3
  Use a soft cloth, such as silk or cotton, to dry the man-made opal ring after cleaning. Or leave your synthetic opal ring out to air dry.
- 4
  Store the ring in its original case or a soft jewelry pouch, if possible. It is not necessary to store man-made opal rings in oil or glycerin to protect their composition. While this storage method may not damage the synthetic opal, it necessitates extra cleaning.

Rocks & Minerals