Lightning Ridge Black Opal

[MakingTheGrade]

small but mighty!
After many mail delays and stressful calls to DHL. Finally got the opal I bought around Black Friday!

I love the colors. Reminds me of an impressionist painting, and it feels like I’m looking at a different display of colors every time I look at it. Opals really are magical.

First vendor photo


My photos (sorry there are many!)

 

[MakingTheGrade]

More pictures

 

[MakingTheGrade]

And more because I keep seeing new angles!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Last batch I promise

 

[leukolenos]

Really lovely. How will you set it?

 

[strawrose]

So beautiful!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Really lovely. How will you set it?

No idea

 

[ShinyPink]

WOW!!!! Those colors are incredible!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

WOW!!!! Those colors are incredible!

Thanks! Took me a loooooooooooooong time to find:
A black opal
From Lightning Ridge
With all the colors
In a floral pattern (I don't like pinpoint)
With good directionality of color and coverage
At least 6x6mm for a ring
And IN BUDGET

I would love if it were a higher dome, but hey, good enough!

If I could afford this kind of stone in a 10x12 size, that'd be my holy grail opal!

 

[elliefire99]

Yaaayy! It's finally here!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

@jordyonbass and other opal owners, do you feel most jewelers can set an opal or should I try to find a "specialist"? Does such a thing exist?

I know opals can't go into steamers/ultrasounds, and they are soft. But my jeweler has set plenty of garnets for me with no issues/scratches including the very pointy one in my avatar. Is it reasonable to think they'd be ok doing a bezel setting for this opal? Is there anything else specific I should make sure they are careful not to do?

 

[lissyflo]

It’s amazing! Black opals are so striking. And totally unrelated, but I love the frenchie band in your first picture too!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

It’s amazing! Black opals are so striking. And totally unrelated, but I love the frenchie band in your first picture too!

Thanks!
I have to say, the colors and movement are super cool, but I was surprised at how small it seems compared to my faceted gems. It makes sense since those appear larger since they are reflecting a lot of light. But now I"m trying to think of how to set it to really highlight it and not overwhelm it since it's not super big. I tend towards bezels so it'll probably be some variant of a bezel design..

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Realized it’s looking bigger cause it’s in a tall ring holder. Here it is flat on my finger.

The center diamond is around 6.2mm for comparison.

 

[lissyflo]

How about a delicate halo, maybe single cuts or rose cuts so they add size but don’t overpower the opal? Or aren’t you a halo fan? Or bezeled but set east/west - it might stack with another ring more easily that way, if you think the size by itself won’t be big enough for you? I think it’ll be a great size once it’s in a setting!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

How about a delicate halo, maybe single cuts or rose cuts so they add size but don’t overpower the opal? Or aren’t you a halo fan? Or bezeled but set east/west - it might stack with another ring more easily that way, if you think the size by itself won’t be big enough for you? I think it’ll be a great size once it’s in a setting!

I'm really not a halo fan. I love admiring the look, but as it turns out I don't like wearing them and don't like the look on me personally. It just doesn't fit my overall style or personality.

The colors remind of the galaxy and I happened about this cool kind of ring, so maybe something similar?

I agree that EW would be cool!

 

[kmoro]

Last batch I promise

Ah! Congratulations, it is GORGEOUS!

until I spotted one one PS a few weeks ago, I didn’t know black opals existed ... I am blown away ... What a beautiful stone!

And opals come with so much fun folklore too
http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/learn-about-opals/introductory/are-opals-bad-luck

I’m sure your opal will bring you nothing but good luck and happiness!

 

[Sirenagirl]

Your stone totally looks like the galaxy! What a perfect way to describe it. It will look lovely in a bezel!

 

[lissyflo]

I'm really not a halo fan. I love admiring the look, but as it turns out I don't like wearing them and don't like the look on me personally. It just doesn't fit my overall style or personality.

The colors remind of the galaxy and I happened about this cool kind of ring, so maybe something similar?

I agree that EW would be cool!

That definitely can’t be described as a run of the mill piece of jewellery! I love seeing your pieces - they’re always interesting and different, so I can’t wait to see what you do with it. The gold bezel looks amazing with the black opal in the pictures. It reminds me in a way of some of the Alistair Kelsey pieces that @Acinom has posted.

 

[MamaBee]

@jordyonbass and other opal owners, do you feel most jewelers can set an opal or should I try to find a "specialist"? Does such a thing exist?

I know opals can't go into steamers/ultrasounds, and they are soft. But my jeweler has set plenty of garnets for me with no issues/scratches including the very pointy one in my avatar. Is it reasonable to think they'd be ok doing a bezel setting for this opal? Is there anything else specific I should make sure they are careful not to do?

I typed a reply and messed up and deleted it..grrrr..I would definitely get a jeweler that is experienced with setting an opal. They are a soft stone so can chip, scratch and break. It’s so beautiful I would be worried about that happening unless they were experienced..

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I typed a reply and messed up and deleted it..grrrr..I would definitely get a jeweler that is experienced with setting an opal. They are a soft stone so can chip, scratch and break. It’s so beautiful I would be worried about that happening unless they were experienced..

Yeah I'll ask my jeweler. Overall I trust her but I don't know how often she works with opals. And I remember catmom's story about hers getting cracked. I think I would cry!

 

[ringbling17]

It’s beautiful!!!

 

[OoohShiny]

That is an awesome stone, great find!

 

[minousbijoux]

Wow, that is absolutely drop dead gorgeous!! You did really well - definitely worth the wait!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

That is an awesome stone, great find!

Omg. Sometimes I get so jealous over at Rocky Talky. Diamond shopping is so much easier in terms of availability. Colored stone hunting can take yeeeeaaarrs. Like finally finding my holy grail pad 10 years after joining PS. I STILL haven’t found a demantoid I like enough to buy after 10 years!

 

[OoohShiny]

Omg. Sometimes I get so jealous over at Rocky Talky. Diamond shopping is so much easier in terms of availability. Colored stone hunting can take yeeeeaaarrs. Like finally finding my holy grail pad 10 years after joining PS. I STILL haven’t found a demantoid I like enough to buy after 10 years!

But life would be boring if we didn't have goals LOL

 

[MamaBee]

Yeah I'll ask my jeweler. Overall I trust her but I don't know how often she works with opals. And I remember catmom's story about hers getting cracked. I think I would cry!

I didn’t know that happened to her! Sorry @Catmom

 

[jordyonbass]

@jordyonbass and other opal owners, do you feel most jewelers can set an opal or should I try to find a "specialist"? Does such a thing exist?

I know opals can't go into steamers/ultrasounds, and they are soft. But my jeweler has set plenty of garnets for me with no issues/scratches including the very pointy one in my avatar. Is it reasonable to think they'd be ok doing a bezel setting for this opal? Is there anything else specific I should make sure they are careful not to do?

I would recommend finding a jeweler that works with Opal regularly. The major risk with a bezel is too much pressure on a stone causing it to crack, especially low domed stones that are thin in comparison to length and width.

Plus I've seen some jewelers who aren't experienced with Opal do some weird things, I've seen one of my stones set very high; that caused the colourplay to become washed out and it made the stone less attractive.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Thanks! Anyone have recommendations? I don’t know that I see many PS recommended jewelers produce regular opal pieces..

 

[rubysweettart]

That stone is magical! I can't wait to see what you do with it!