Moonstone Vs Opal: A Guide to Help You Choose?
Opals and moonstones have captured our hearts and attention for thousands of years. While we can’t stop admiring their captivating color and beauty, we also can't overlook the importance of their therapeutic qualities.
People view them both similarly, so let's put an end to this misconception once and for all. And if you're curious about which one to pick, you're in the proper place. WillWork Jewelry will help to solve that puzzle by contrasting these two amazing gems. First, let’s begin by discussing the symbolic meanings of moonstone and opal; these exquisite stones are quite captivating. Without further ado, let's get started!
What's Opal？
Opal is a magnificent, colorful gem recognized specially for its fiery color that emanates from deep inside the stone, which makes it uniquely charming.
What's Moonstone？
Moonstone is known for its adularescence, a milky, bluish light that seems to emanate from within the stone.
What Moonstone and Opal Stand For
While moonstones and opal stones are associated with emotional healing and balance, Numerous cultures around the world view opal stones more specifically as lucky symbols. Moonstones are believed to support emotional growth, calm anxiety, and foster harmony in relationships. Opal stones are thought to foster self-acceptance, encourage personal growth, and assist in releasing emotional baggage. Having said that, let’s look deeply at how they differ from each other.
The Difference Between Moonstone and Opal Color
Moonstone
Moonstone is a one-of-a-kind gemstone that exhibits a phenomenon known as adularescence. This a rare phenomenon in which a light blue shimmer covers the interior of the gemstone, giving it a celestial effect. Furthermore, moonstone comes in a number of colors, such as blue, pink, white, and gray.
Oval moonstone ring vintage twisted leaf nature inspired
Opal
Opal is one of the few gemstones that can be found in different color varieties; the most common of which are the pink stones, blue, green, black, white, and fire. One-third of opal stones are composed of water, which plays a major role in making it possible for the stone to easily change color when receiving light from the sun or any other source.
Unique kite cut white opal engagement ring twig leaf rose gold
Origin
Most of the world’s moonstones come from mineral deposits in the United States, Poland, Madagascar, India, Armenia, and Australia. However, compared to other countries, Myanmar produces moonstones that have the highest translucence and showcase a dazzling blue luster. Today, the most commercially viable moonstones mostly come from Sri Lanka.
When it comes to opals, the highest quality of these gems is found in Australia and Ethiopia. Over 90-95% of the global opal supply traces its origin to Australia. Other well-known sources of opals include Brazil, Nevada, Mexico, Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia, just to name a few.
Treatment
Due to their beautiful appearance, moonstones don’t undergo much treatment to achieve desirable forms and in many cases are just good enough.
A few opals that occur naturally have amazing appearances and picture-perfect shapes, and most don’t look so good. To boost their beauty, they are subjected to a series of treatments, which include treatments in sugar or smoke.
Affordability & Popularity
Moonstones are not as valuable as opals, but compared to normal opals, moonstones can cost as much as $1000 per carat. Even more, because moonstone has a more attractive appearance compared to opals, people generally love moonstone jewelry and prefer them to opals.
While moonstones are generally attractive and affordable, opals cost more. Besides being more expensive than moonstone, opals are one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world, with fire opals always in high demand. The most affordable types of opals are the Boulder varieties.
Symbolism
Moonstones have held symbolic meanings across cultures around the world. They have been linked to fertility, feminine energy, love, and harmony. They have also been believed to cause a relaxing effect and some people wear moonstone jewelry to maintain balance and stress in their lives.
Opals are also revered stones and are regarded in many cultures to mean different things such as loyalty, goodness, innocence, and assurance. Opals have been known to bring positivity and hope, yet this depiction is mostly based on their varying hues.
Benefit
Moonstone Jewelry has been highly valued due to its healing properties and capacity to enhance the physical and emotional well-being of the wearer. Women who struggle with high stress and extreme anxiety have found solace in moonstones. This gem is believed to unlock clairvoyant powers and improve intuitive abilities. Moonstones are well known for their remarkable healing abilities, due to their ability to cure several forms of physical ailments.
pals and moonstones have captured our hearts and attention for thousands of years. While we can’t stop admiring their captivating color and beauty, we also can't overlook the importance of their therapeutic qualities.
People view them both similarly, so let's put an end to this misconception once and for all. And if you're curious about which one to pick, you're in the proper place. WillWork Jewelry will help to solve that puzzle by contrasting these two amazing gems. First, let’s begin by discussing the symbolic meanings of moonstone and opal; these exquisite stones are quite captivating. Without further ado, let's get started!
What's Opal？
Opal is a magnificent, colorful gem recognized specially for its fiery color that emanates from deep inside the stone, which makes it uniquely charming.
What's Moonstone？
Moonstone is known for its adularescence, a milky, bluish light that seems to emanate from within the stone.
What Moonstone and Opal Stand For
While moonstones and opal stones are associated with emotional healing and balance, Numerous cultures around the world view opal stones more specifically as lucky symbols. Moonstones are believed to support emotional growth, calm anxiety, and foster harmony in relationships. Opal stones are thought to foster self-acceptance, encourage personal growth, and assist in releasing emotional baggage. Having said that, let’s look deeply at how they differ from each other.
The Difference Between Moonstone and Opal Color
Moonstone
Moonstone is a one-of-a-kind gemstone that exhibits a phenomenon known as adularescence. This a rare phenomenon in which a light blue shimmer covers the interior of the gemstone, giving it a celestial effect. Furthermore, moonstone comes in a number of colors, such as blue, pink, white, and gray.
Opal
Opal is one of the few gemstones that can be found in different color varieties; the most common of which are the pink stones, blue, green, black, white, and fire. One-third of opal stones are composed of water, which plays a major role in making it possible for the stone to easily change color when receiving light from the sun or any other source.
Origin
Most of the world’s moonstones come from mineral deposits in the United States, Poland, Madagascar, India, Armenia, and Australia. However, compared to other countries, Myanmar produces moonstones that have the highest translucence and showcase a dazzling blue luster. Today, the most commercially viable moonstones mostly come from Sri Lanka.
When it comes to opals, the highest quality of these gems is found in Australia and Ethiopia. Over 90-95% of the global opal supply traces its origin to Australia. Other well-known sources of opals include Brazil, Nevada, Mexico, Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia, just to name a few.
Treatment
Due to their beautiful appearance, moonstones don’t undergo much treatment to achieve desirable forms and in many cases are just good enough.
A few opals that occur naturally have amazing appearances and picture-perfect shapes, and most don’t look so good. To boost their beauty, they are subjected to a series of treatments, which include treatments in sugar or smoke.
Affordability & Popularity
Moonstones are not as valuable as opals, but compared to normal opals, moonstones can cost as much as $1000 per carat. Even more, because moonstone has a more attractive appearance compared to opals, people generally love moonstone jewelry and prefer them to opals.
While moonstones are generally attractive and affordable, opals cost more. Besides being more expensive than moonstone, opals are one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world, with fire opals always in high demand. The most affordable types of opals are the Boulder varieties.
Symbolism
Moonstones have held symbolic meanings across cultures around the world. They have been linked to fertility, feminine energy, love, and harmony. They have also been believed to cause a relaxing effect and some people wear moonstone jewelry to maintain balance and stress in their lives.
Opals are also revered stones and are regarded in many cultures to mean different things such as loyalty, goodness, innocence, and assurance. Opals have been known to bring positivity and hope, yet this depiction is mostly based on their varying hues.
Benefit
Moonstone Jewelry has been highly valued due to its healing properties and capacity to enhance the physical and emotional well-being of the wearer. Women who struggle with high stress and extreme anxiety have found solace in moonstones. This gem is believed to unlock clairvoyant powers and improve intuitive abilities. Moonstones are well known for their remarkable healing abilities, due to their ability to cure several forms of physical ailments. 
Opal Jewelry offers wearers benefits such as emotional balance and clarity of mind with a more positive outlook on life. It is believed opal allows you to protect your point of view and correctly redirects your vitality. In addition to that, wealth and fame are attributed to opals.
nature inspired leaf opal amethyst ring set
Which of these Should You Choose?
Which is better moonstone or opal?
On the Mohs hardness scale, opals range between 5.5 and 6.5, which means they are incredibly soft, while moonstones on the other hand are between 6 and 6.5. With this rating, it means both stones scratch easily and are susceptible to breakage but opals are more likely to scratch and damage.
Why should you choose moonstone?
Moonstones are known to help with different sicknesses and ailments, resolve depression, and anxiety attacks, and encourage emotional stability. Moonstone gemstone also promotes a desire a for change and a healthier life.
What is the most valuable opal color?
The most valuable opal variety is black opal as it typically comes in the full rainbow spectrum of colors. Due to this dark body tone, the colors on the opal appear remarkably rich and intense
Conclusion
The main property that makes opals so highly sough after is their uniqueness, which means there are no two same opals, and each differs from the other in the same way finger prints or snow flaskes look dissimilar. Furthermore, their play-of-color, which is due to the innumerable tiny silical spheres that forms the gems makes opal well loved by many. No matter the variety you chose, you are sure to have a gem that instantly stands out in your jewelry box.
While Moonstone with its adularescent appearance has led to legends passed on from one generation to generation about this gem. Moonstone may not be as popular as opal, but more and more people are taking to this amazing gem and is a lovely choice for people who want that elegant and enchanting look. So if you are looking at trying out a different type of jewel that won’t disappoint, moonstone is a good option.
