What does it mean that a Tanzanite ring has an Opal Inlay?

Since opals are a softer stone, they are usually inlaid in precious metal, and secured with a special glue. If you have a tanzanite ring with an opal inlay, it means the main gem is tanzanite – a bright blue gemstone – and opal is inlaid probably on the band. If you're asking, in my opinion it's a hideous combination – there's nothing like ruining a gorgeous tanzanite gemstone by trashing it up with cheap opals. And they don't even match!

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In case this first answer was as unclear to you as it was to me, a Tanzanite ring with opal inlay is a ring with a tanzanite stone as its feature stone. The ring's band, however, is inlaid with opal strips. It can be inlaid all the way around the band, or just at the front near the featured tanzanite stone.

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Opal inlay refers to an opal set which is assembled in the gold mounting, where the tanzanite gems are inset. A special glue is used to set the opal into the gold mounting, which makes the ring more water sensitive than other men's rings.

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