Hi Steph thanks for your submission and your patience.
In 1870 a huge Opal field was discovered in Australia which resulted in Queen Victoria's successful attempt to lift the veil of superstition that had befallen the gem as a result of a novel - 'Anne of Geierstein' by Sir Walter Scott written in 1829, that accuses the opal of bringing bad luck to the Lady Heroine, a character in the book, who came to a tragic end, who always wore an opal in her hair. The Opal gemstone's Play-of-Color seemed to reflect LH's every mood. A bit like the superstition that surrounded the Hope Blue Diamond.
Queen Victoria redeemed the "magic stone" (it was called the magic stone in the 1800s) from the superstition that surrounded it and by the End of the Century Opals were one of the most fashionable stones had lost their unearned reputation for being unlucky and were being used in the newest designs in the most fascinating manner.
You mentioned the opal has a few fines lines running through the length of it. Because Opals are as much as 30% water they require special treatment, Prevention is always better than cure. If the Opal gets too dry it tends to crack and ma y lose its iridescent qualities. Walter Schumann suggests the best treatment for Opal is to "saturate he stone with oil or water and avoid the aging process by storing the piece in moist absorbent cotton". ( In the book, Gems of the World)
18ct is high quality gold. The ring is antique, most likely late 1800s or early 1900s and it would have been the height of fashion.
