20 Opal Engagement Rings to Shop Now

Is this symbolic stone right for you? We asked the experts.

Photo: Melanie Grimes Photography / Getty Images

Updated Dec 18, 2023

Throughout history, opals have garnered a reputation as gemstones that symbolize hope, purity, and truth, bring the wearer good luck, and have spiritual healing properties. They're said to alleviate pain, align with the chakras, and even have magical powers. Thus, an opal engagement ring sounds like a perfect choice, right? Well, yes and no. Symbolically, an opal represents many values one hopes to bring into a marriage; physically and geologically, it's a more delicate stone than a diamond (or ruby or sapphire) and not incredibly ideal for everyday wear. We spoke with Nathan Renfro, senior manager of colored stone identification for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), about the pros and cons of opal engagement rings, and pegged 21 rings to inspire your search.

In this article:

Our Favorite Opal Engagement Rings
What Is Opal?
What Does Opal Symbolize?
Is Opal Good for Engagement Rings?

Our Favorite Opal Engagement Rings

Whether you opt for opal as an engagement ring, a wedding or anniversary present, or simply a special occasion gift, the gemstone is stunning in a setting. Its play-of-light properties make each opal more unique than the last—a stone as one-of-a-kind as its wearer.

Angara Pear Opal Ring with Triple Diamond Accents

In our research, we found online jeweler Angara—run by husband-wife duo Ankur and Aditi Daga—to have the widest selection of opal engagement rings by far, including ones that most mimic your typical diamond engagement ring. For example, this split-shank opal engagement ring has a pear-shaped center stone surrounded by a trio of diamond accents on either side.

$2,061 | Angara

Opal and Diamond Ring

Go big or go home: This pear-shaped opal engagement ring features a 3.58-carat center stone swirling with color and is surrounded by round white diamonds totaling 0.34 carats. The 14-karat gold band is classic and timeless.

$3,400 | Quinn's Goldsmith

Embrace Opal Ring

This jeweler focuses on GIA-certified gems imbued with deep meaning. The opal is no exception: Symbolizing loyalty, faith and optimism, it is meant to activate positive thinking and—when worn as a wedding or engagement ring—keep a marriage happy and healthy. This iteration has a unique setting and solid rose gold band.

$235 | Moon Magic

Marrow X Sammi Opal Sempre Ring

A collab between the jeweler and TikTokker Sammi Jeffcoate, this Claddagh-inspired ring comes with various center stone choices, but our pick is the precious opal (at 0.35 carats). The 14-karat gold band is oxidized on either side of the center stone with the words "life" and "death," symbolizing lifelong love.

$1,890 | Marrow Fine

Pamela Love Inlay Scarab Ring

This unique opal engagement ring has double the symbolism: The fiery, meaningful opal is inlaid in a scarab-inspired setting of recycled 14-karat gold meant to represent regeneration and transition—as it did in ancient Egypt—two values that beautifully encapsulate the start of a new life together.

$1,270 | Pamela Love

Wwake Black Opal Monolith Ring No. 17

Black opal engagement rings are harder to come by, and, indeed, this piece by Wwake is one-of-a-kind. It features a 1.62-carat Australian opal with a cabochon cut (a gem that has been shaped and polished rather than faceted like a diamond). The mesmerizing gemstone sits atop a thick gold band. Pair it with a thin horizontal baguette wedding band.

$6,795 | Wwake

Harvest Moon Solid Gold Black Opal Signet Ring

Created with recycled materials and conflict-free gemstones, this black opal engagement ring has a signet inspiration. Personalize the piece by adding an inscription (like you'd find on an old-school signet ring) for the recipient.

$330 | Local Eclectic

Marco Bicego Africa Boules Pink Opal Ring

Pink opal engagement rings are feminine and fun. We love how this one rises high off the hand as a stunning solitaire diamond would—it's perfect for a girly girl with a one-of-a-kind edge.

$1,270 | J.R. Dunn

Pamela Love Ursa Major Ring

If you're looking for an opal engagement ring, chances are you're into symbolism. This one doubles down on it with a nod to astrology: Two round bezel-set diamonds and a white opal float in a constellation formation in a larger round pink opal base. The signet-like setting adds another unique element.

$2,900 | Pamela Love

Helzberg Diamonds Opal and Pink Sapphire Ring with Diamonds in 10K Rose Gold

Lean into the pinkish hues opals emit with a ring haloed in pink sapphires. There's no shortage of sparkle in this opal halo engagement ring, which features 16 round pink sapphires and 36 round diamonds around the halo and down the sides of the band. A final touch of pink comes in the form of a 10-karat rose gold band.

$999.99 | Helzberg Diamonds

Oval-Cut Opal and White Sapphire Cluster Ring

This sterling silver opal engagement ring is straight from the lab, made with lab-formed opals in a variety of sizes and scattered with lab-grown white sapphires. We love it as a bold and ultra-unique engagement ring, but if you're going the more traditional route for your engagement ring, this is a fun wedding-day piece for the other hand.

$199.99 | Kay Jewelers

Oval Opal and Swiss Blue Topaz Halo Ring in 14K Rose Gold

In search of blue opal engagement rings? They're pretty rare. But this stunning style incorporates the blue hue (which we love for bridal) in the form of Swiss blue topaz gemstones surrounding the center stone beneath a diamond halo. The topaz picks up on the bluest hues of the opal.

$992 | Blue Nile

Angara Solitaire Opal Infinity Knot Ring

If big flashy gemstones aren't your vibe, look for an engagement ring that focuses on unique metals, whether it be in color or structure. This gold opal engagement ring is crafted to look like an infinity knot—a fitting nod to marriage.

$774 | Angara

Satomi Kawakita Australian White Opal Glacé Ring

Bezel-set engagement rings are on-trend, and their low profile makes them a practical choice for day-to-day wear. This one is available in a variety of ultra-unique gemstones, from lavender quartz to rainbow moonstone London blue topaz, but we especially fell for the shimmery, light-bending Australian white opal.

$2,510 | Satomi Kawakita

Oval-Cut Solitaire Opal Ring

Available in a variety of opal colors from orangey fire opal to pink and blue, and with stones up to 8 carats, this oval opal engagement ring solitaire is perfectly customizable. It's simple and understated, yet makes a unique conversation starter.

From $108 | Lane Woods Jewelry

Angara Pear Fire Opal Ring with Diamond Halo

Fire opal engagement rings are some of the most unique pieces on the market. This one is bold and beautiful with an heirloom-quality 1.1-carat pear-shaped center stone, diamond halo and diamonds down the rose-gold band.

$1,638 | Angara

Rose Gold Oval Cut Opal and Diamond Engagement Ring Set

While this opal engagement ring is gorgeous on its own—it has a center oval opal and cluster of side stones in either diamond or moissanite—it's a true stunner when paired with its arched wedding band set. The mix of round and marquise-cut diamonds give this a look reminiscent of vintage opal engagement rings.

$890 | Molly Jewelry US

White Opal Ring with Sprinkled Diamonds

A one-of-a-kind bride deserves a one-of-a-kind ring, and this is exactly that. This piece features a water drop white opal center stone with a sprinkling of white diamonds totaling 0.1 carats. But the real story here is the metal. Available in yellow, rose or white gold, the metal is molten and melded in an organic, textured style. It's an homage to the legendary healing powers of opals.

$2,995 | Logan Hollowell

Greenwich Flower Opal and Diamond Engagement Ring

Dainty and feminine, this diamond engagement ring with opal accents is shaped to look like a flower, with the milky white opals serving as petals around a petite center diamond. (By the way, the style is available in all 12 birthstones, if you're looking for a special gift for the day of the wedding).

$775 | Haverhill

Art Deco Opal Engagement Ring

Marquise-cut diamonds surround the center stone in a starburst array in this oval opal engagement ring, giving it an art deco aesthetic. If you like the vintage vibe, further it with a 14-karat rose gold band; or opt for white or yellow gold for a more contemporary take on the style.

$2,461 | Etsy

What Is Opal?

Here we'll let the expert explain: "Opal is a gem formed by sedimentary deposition of tiny silica spheres, and it's special because of a unique phenomenon that it can display," the GIA's Nathan Renfro explains. "When the tiny spheres of silica are neatly stacked in an orderly fashion, light is diffracted from those arrays of silica spheres producing what is known as play-of-color, or flashes of multicolored light. When opal shows this type of phenomenon, we refer to it as 'precious opal.'"

Unlike diamonds, which are faceted, opals are cut as cabochons; they have a smooth rounded or even domed look. "But, the outline can be any shape you can imagine," Renfro says. "It is also often cut into freeform and sometimes very irregular shapes to best preserve and highlight the play-of-color."

What Does Opal Symbolize?

In ancient Greece, opals were believed to protect against disease; early Europeans imbued opals with the symbolism of hope, purity, and truth; Arabic legend says opals fall from heaven. Each of these supernatural beliefs most likely originated from the fascinating array of light and kaleidoscopic color opals display.

Today, opal is one of two October birthstones (the other is tourmaline). They come from all over, with Australia being one of the largest sources, and can be found in a range of hues: pink opal, fire opal (a vibrant orange), blue opal, and even black opal, with no two stones looking exactly alike in color. "The most prized are black opals, which have a gray-to-black body color that enhances the contrast of the play-of-color phenomenon," Renfro explains. "There is some lore about black opals being unlucky, but I think their beauty far outweighs any risk of bad luck."

Is Opal Good for Engagement Rings?

When it comes to everyday wear, opals are not the best choice due to their lack of durability; however, they could make a great engagement gemstone for someone who doesn't wear their ring every day (for example, if they typically remove it for work). "The pros are that opal is absolutely beautiful and unique, as no two opals will ever look exactly alike," Renfro says. "The cons are that it is too delicate as an everyday-wear stone, especially in a ring where it may be subjected to accidental impact. Ruby, sapphire, or diamond are much better suited to that sort of jewelry item due to their high durability and resistance to scratching." If your heart is set on opal, Renfro recommends it as a special occasion piece: a wedding present or anniversary gift. Or, try it in other jewelry. "I cut a nice precious opal for my wife as a present but I had it set in a custom necklace where it is better protected and something she will be able to enjoy for a long time."