Opal Chains

The opal: opal chain, black opal and galaxy opal necklace

Choose with your eyes first. An opal is bought for its play of color, the flashes of blue, green and red that move as the stone turns, and no two chains throw the same fire. Most pieces here are opal tennis chains, each opal in its own prongs. A black opal has a dark body that makes those colors read brighter.

Two galaxy opal pieces add natural diamonds, a chain and a set with a diamond pendant. No title says whether the opals are mined or lab-made, so ask the desk before you pay.

Width: a dainty opal chain or a wide opal tennis chain

Decide how you will wear it. The dainty chain is 2.5 mm across, a fine line of opal to wear daily or layer with a plain gold chain. It weighs 17 grams and was bought more than any other piece here in the year.

The other tennis chains run from 6 to 7 mm, and at that width the opals are the whole show. Wear a wide one alone, over a T-shirt. A heavy pendant can twist a tennis chain, so ask the desk before you hang one, or see the opal pendants.

Length: 17, 20, 22 or 24 inch opal necklace

Most come in one length, so read it on the listing. The luminous chain is 17 inches and sits high on the neck. The dainty one is 20. The symphony is 22 inches, a length many men wear, and one chain is 24 for a lower drape. Only the galaxy set lets you pick its chain, at 18, 20, 22 or 24 inches.

A tennis chain is made shorter by taking out links, and a chain cut to your length is final sale. Ask the desk for a length you do not see.

Care: is an opal chain good for everyday wear

It can be, with a little care. Opal is a softer stone than diamond or sapphire, and one hard knock can chip it. Put it on after lotion and perfume, and leave it off for the gym and the pool. Most opal holds a little water, and sudden heat can craze it with fine cracks.

Clean it with a soft damp cloth, never in an ultrasonic cleaner. Store it in its own pouch, away from diamonds. Once a year, have a jeweler look over the prongs and the clasp.

Gold and diamonds: yellow, white or rose gold opal chain with diamonds

Every piece here is 14K gold. Two of the wide tennis chains let you choose yellow, white or rose, and the symphony comes in yellow or white. White gold cools the blues of an opal, while yellow warms its reds and oranges.

The galaxy chain sets its opals among natural diamonds, G to H in color and SI in clarity, in yellow and white gold. Before you pay, ask on the live chat how a chain's colors look in daylight, or call or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET.