QuestionDear Rod,
I've made a wrapped gold-filled wire,pearls and blue Peruvian opal beads necklace; in a few weeks the gold-filled wire became brightless and somehow dirty only on the part worked with blue opal (the pearls part is still bright and clean). Also, some opal beads on wire kept in a box have dehydration symptoms and the gold-filled wire is dirty and have a green film on it or just some green spots . I've cleaned it with baking soda and warm water, but I really need to find an explanation to all this. Also, if you could give me/us an advice on recognizing a genuine blue Peruvian opal it would be great. I wonder if the dyed blue opals may have dangerous coloring substances inside them and that could affect the skin by dehydration of beads.
AnswerHi Corina,
Im afraid Im not going to be too much help here as Pervuvian Opal is not regarded as gemstone opal with color as Australian Opal, Mexican ,Brazilian, even Ethiopian Opal posesses.Pervuvian "Opal"
(also called blue opal) is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru at altitude which is often cut to include the matrix in the more opaque stones. It does not display pleochroism.
Im not sure its even Opal, Its Blue Green is usually because of mineralization to cause its color. It would seem its had a reaction with your wire. Any dye put in a stone would be suspect as you have correctly identified. Im sorry I cant be of more help ,but its an unusual one .I am compelled to learn more about this stone ,Ive never seen any with colour yet . best regards Rod
