Australia produces the majority of opals for use in the jewelry industry today. Boulder opal is found in the state of Queensland, forming in a belt of weathered sedimentary Cretaceous rock in the west of the state known as the Winton Formation. Australian Boulder Opal may be found filling or lining the concentric layers of ironstone or weathered ferruginous sandstone in radial or random cracks as thin or thick veins. The gemstone has also been known to be found as a solid kernel or nut’, encased in the host stone creating something known as a Yowah-nut’. Boulder Opal is second in ranking after the Black Opals that are mined within Australia. The 36.70 ct Australian Boulder Opal resting at the center of our 18K rose gold pendant is a thing of beauty. It’s a mosaic of contrasting colors as the host rock dominates the lower left side of the stone with warm neutral brown color contrasting against the splash of cool purple and blue colors on the upper right half of the pear-shaped cabochon. The fire of the opal dances within the stone as the light cascades down on it from different angles. The opal is prong set in a rose gold mounting that has been given a hammered finish, creating a very organic and natural look to the pendant. The pendant hangs from its large smooth bale on a rose gold chain with textured pattern carved into each link.
Item Number: HP5615