Opal Dragon

Surely you’ll find the exact opal dragon you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Frequently made of gold, 14k gold and yellow gold, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 8 vintage or 7 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Making the right choice when shopping for an opal dragon may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic opal dragon over the years, but those made by Selda Jewellery, John Brogden and K. Brunini Jewels are often thought to be among the most beautiful. An opal dragon of any era or style can lend versatility to your look, but a version featuring opal, from our inventory of 11, is particularly popular. Today, if you’re looking for a cabochon version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and oval cut alternatives. If you’re browsing our inventory for an opal dragon, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

The price for an opal dragon starts at $1,000 and tops out at $36,120 with these rings, on average, selling for $2,500.

Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.

Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)

Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!

There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.

So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.

There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).