Can you ever have enough necklaces? It seems like every woman's jewelry collection always has a wider arrange of necklaces than almost any other type of jewelry. Necklaces are often the first piece of even play jewelry we give kids. Chunky plastic beads with brightly colored pendants slowly give way to cleaner lines, smaller chains and grown up pendants crafted from a variety of materials. Necklaces do more than adorn our bodies; they're placed in such a way that the light they reflect can enhance the coloring of our face or the brightness of our eyes. The colors and materials we choose for necklaces can make a black dress something casual and chic for a night out on the town or upscale and refined for an evening at the opera.

So how do you decide which look a necklace will bring out? First, of course, you have to consider the gemstone that becomes the hero of the piece. Opals are wonderfully diverse and can be used to create a look that calls on inspiration from the rugged multi-colored veins of opal deposits or which look as polished as dynamic as any diamond.

The color palate of an opal is important when paring it with a specific look. More earthy tones are found in Matrix opals while aqua and water colors are more associated with Boulder opals. Then you have Black opals which are what many people think of when they hear the word ‘opalescent’ – a kind of milky, shimmering beauty that plays well with both bright, light colors and deep, luxurious burgundy or velvet black.

Pairing using the color palate of opals still gives you plenty of wiggle room since opals are, by their very nature, a dynamic and versatile gemstone. Once you have a color palate, simply find a cut and size that best suits your needs and you’re all set. Best of all, you can even find your own opal type and decide which cut you need by ordering a custom made piece. No doubt this kind of versatility is exactly why so many people are quite happy to have a jewelry collection that boasts more necklaces and stand-alone pendants than almost anything else.