Opal Engagement Rings - A Great Alternative to a Diamond Engagement Ring

 Opal diamond engagement ring are a great alternative for those that do not like to follow tradition. The opal stone is mostly mined in Australia. I say mostly but I do not know of another place they come from, but I do not know everything, just a lot.

As a scientist I will let you know the facts. The opal is a relatively soft gem. The diamond is ranked as a 10 on the Mohs scale while the opal is between 5 and 6. The opal is comparative to modern glass. Opals are rarer than diamonds. While diamonds are set as solitaires with prongs, most opals are set with a gold trim on the outer edge to help protect the stone. While diamonds display all the colors of the rainbow the same as a prism does with the refraction of light, the opal actually has all the colors of the rainbow in the gem itself. As one looks at an opal stone, the moment of the colour is in an unpredictable pattern and is referred to as the play of colour.

When opal engagement rings are chosen as the one to give when that special question is asked, then chose one that is not easily damaged. The selection of a stone with a low cabochon is preferred. This is the size of the dome of the stone. The lower the dome, the less chance of accidental damage occurring.

When it comes to being harder and more resilient when worn, the Boulder opal is the right choice because of the natural ironstone that is part of its physical makeup. This is the type with the hardness is approaching 6.

Opal engagement rings are a good choice for those that want a high quality and rare stone for that perfect moment in their lives.

Let's face facts -- buying a diamond engagement ring is one of the most important purchases that you will ever make. It will set the tone for your marriage, and may be more meaningful to you than the purchase of your first home.

Not only that, but buying an engagement ring is a big investment. Simply put, you want the best value for your money and you need to deal with someone that you can trust.