Is Opal Really Bad Luck? 👀
October has one of the most beautiful - and possibly most misunderstood - birthstones in the jewellery box.
Opal.
With its flashes of pink, blue, green, orange and every colour in between, it's hardly surprising that opal has picked up a few stories and superstitions over the years.
One of the most famous is that opals are unlucky.
But where did that idea even come from?
The superstition appears to have been influenced by a mixture of folklore, literature and a particularly unfortunate piece of marketing history. Over time, stories began circulating that opals were associated with bad luck, particularly for people who didn't have October as their birth month.
And then came the books.
In the 19th century, Sir Walter Scott's novel Anne of Geierstein featured an opal with supernatural associations. The story is often credited with helping fuel the gemstone's unfortunate reputation.
The funny thing is, opals had actually been considered lucky and protective in many cultures long before this.
So depending on who you ask, an opal could be a symbol of good fortune, protection and hope… or a tiny little gemstone curse waiting to ruin your day. 😂
At Jewellers Vault, we're firmly in the “it's gorgeous, wear it” camp.
And honestly, when an opal catches the light and suddenly throws out a flash of electric blue or fiery orange, it's pretty hard to believe there's anything unlucky about it.
So, October babies…
Would an old superstition stop you from wearing an opal?
Or would you happily wear one and let the gemstone's colours do the talking? ✨
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The Ring He Never Forgot 💙
This is possibly one of my favourite transformations we’ve ever had through the workshop - and honestly, the story behind it gave me goosebumps.
Many moons ago, our client was gifted a sapphire ring by her now-husband. It was her favourite piece of jewellery, not necessarily because it was the most valuable, but because it was the first piece of jewellery he ever gave her.
And after a lifetime of being worn and loved, it was definitely showing its age.
Unfortunately, the style of the original setting and the condition of the white sapphires meant that simply repairing the ring wasn't really an option. It would have been lovely to restore it exactly as it was, but sometimes jewellery reaches a point where a little more than a repair is needed.
So, very gently, we suggested a remake.
And that's when her face lit up.
Because rather than saying goodbye to the old ring, we could give it a whole new life - by bringing some of her other sentimental jewellery along for the journey.
The blue sapphires from the original ring were carefully reused, while the white sapphires were replaced with diamonds from her own jewellery. Then, a select few of her treasured rings were melted down and incorporated into the new piece.
Piece by piece, memory by memory, we handmade a brand-new ring that was still very much her old ring.
And then came our favourite part.
Her husband came to collect it on her behalf.
When he opened the box and saw the ring, he gasped.
He remembered it.
He remembered the ring he had given her all those years ago. He remembered the story behind it. And suddenly, this wasn't just a new piece of jewellery sitting in a box - it was a familiar little piece of their history, brought back to life.
That's what we love most about remodelling sentimental jewellery.
Sometimes the goal isn't to make something completely new.
It's to make something that feels like home. 💙
Same sapphires.
Her own diamonds.
Gold from treasured pieces.
A brand-new setting.
And a whole lifetime of memories still wrapped up inside it.
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Is Your Jewellery Trying to Tell You Something?
Your jewellery doesn't exactly have a voice.
But if it did, we're pretty sure it would have a few things to say. 😂
Because jewellery can actually give you plenty of little warning signs before a minor problem turns into a very expensive game of hide-and-seek with a missing gemstone.
Here are five things your jewellery might be trying to tell you…
💎 “Something feels a little loose…”
If you can feel a gemstone moving when you gently touch it, that's not something to ignore.
A stone should sit securely in its setting. Movement can be a sign that the setting or claws holding it in place have worn or become damaged.
And trust us - “I'll get it checked next week” is a sentence that can end with someone crawling around on their hands and knees looking for a very tiny diamond.
💍 “I've started spinning!”
A ring that suddenly spins around your finger more than it used to can sometimes simply mean your fingers have changed size.
But if it's accompanied by a change in the way the ring sits, visible wear or damage, it's worth having it looked at.
Your ring shouldn't be auditioning for a role as a revolving door.
🦷 “Why are my claws so sharp?”
If the claws around your stone feel sharp or catch on your clothes, hair or skin, don't ignore them.
Those little claws are doing a very important job - keeping your gemstone where it belongs.
Over time, they can become worn, bent or damaged. A jeweller can inspect them and determine whether they need attention before the stone decides to make a break for freedom.
✨ “I've lost my sparkle…”
Sometimes your jewellery simply needs a good clean.
But if a piece remains unusually dull even after cleaning, or you notice scratches, damage or changes to the surface, it may be time for a professional inspection and clean.
We promise your jewellery isn't necessarily going through an existential crisis. It might just need a little TLC.
🔗 “I keep catching on everything!”
A chain that suddenly catches on your clothes, hair or skin could have a damaged link or clasp.
And that little snag you've been ignoring?
It could eventually become a broken chain.
So if your jewellery starts behaving differently, pay attention.
Jewellery is made to be worn and enjoyed, but it isn't indestructible. Everyday wear, knocks, friction and time can all take their toll.
The good news is that many problems are much easier to deal with when they're caught early.
So take a minute today to look at the jewellery you wear most often.
Give it a little wiggle. Check the clasps. Look at the claws. Have a look at your stones.
And if something doesn't look or feel quite right…
Maybe your jewellery is trying to tell you something. 😉
And if you're not sure what it's saying, that's where your friendly jeweller comes in.
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The Ring That Was Lost… But Not Forgotten 💍❤️
This poor client has been in the wars a little lately!
Years ago, one of the stones fell out of her favourite ring. Luckily, she managed to find the missing stone - and, even better, she knew exactly where to bring it.
Yep… she brought it to Jewellers Vault! 😉
We carefully reset the stone and sent our very happy client on her way. Her beloved ring was back on her finger, good as new.
But then came the fateful day…
Somehow, somewhere, that very same ring disappeared. It had been on her finger for years, so no one is quite sure how it happened, but despite searching, the ring was never found.
And our client simply wasn't ready to say goodbye. ❤️
Rather than replace it with something completely different, she decided to have her original ring recreated.
Luckily, she had a photo of the original - which gave us something incredibly valuable to work from.
We sourced new rubies to match the original as closely as possible, and then our client brought in a couple of older rings she was ready to part with. We carefully selected stones from those pieces that most closely resembled the stones in her lost ring.
Those stones, along with the new rubies, were incorporated into the new design.
And then… voila! ✨
A new ring with the look and character of the original - but with a little extra sentimental history hidden within it.
The original ring may still be missing, but its story didn't have to end there.
Sometimes jewellery isn't just jewellery. Sometimes it's a little piece of your history that you're simply not ready to let go of.
And if you could recreate one piece of jewellery you've lost over the years, what would it be? 👇
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There are many important decisions in life.
What to have for dinner.
Whether you really need another coffee.
And, apparently, which piece of jewellery you would choose if you could only have ONE. 😂
So today, we're putting four very different jewellery personalities into the ring and asking you to choose your fighter.
💥 Bold and Beautiful - For the person who believes jewellery should make an entrance.
✨ Sparkly Diamonds - Because sometimes there is absolutely no such thing as too much sparkle.
🤍 Simple & Classic - Understated, timeless and guaranteed to go with just about everything.
💚 Statement Colour - Because who said jewellery has to be predictable?
And here's the tricky part…
You can only choose ONE.
No “I'll take all four.”
No changing your answer after seeing everyone else's.
And definitely no asking us to make you one of each. 😉
So, if you had to pick your jewellery alter ego, which one would you choose?
1, 2, 3 or 4?
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