Blue Opal Jewellery
Blue opal jewellery brings together iridescent stones and precious metals across styles from the Victorian era to the mid-century.
Blue Opal Jewellery
Blue opal jewellery comprises rings, earrings, necklaces, and pendants set with opal cabochons, doublets, and boulder opals. These pieces span from the 19th century through the Edwardian period and into the 1950s and 1960s.
The most common items found here are cluster rings and drop earrings, frequently paired alongside diamonds, sapphires, or pearls. Designs range from traditional and Edwardian fringes to Arts and Crafts and modernist creations.
Makers utilised various gold purities alongside silver to mount these play-of-colour stones. Buyers encounter both solid opal cabochons and boulder opal formations showing natural matrix backgrounds.
How they were made
Goldsmiths set stones in 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct gold, as well as silver, shaping mounts to hold cluster arrangements and drop configurations. Cabochon cutting was standard practice to display the internal play of colour within the opals.
Techniques varied from delicate Edwardian festoon work to robust mid-century cluster settings and Arts and Crafts silver framing. Diamond and sapphire accents were frequently flush or claw-set around central opal stones.
Listings feature 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct gold alongside silver, framing both solid opals and boulder opal doublets.
What varies in quality
Quality rests upon the intensity of the opal's play of colour and the stability of the stone structure, particularly when comparing solid opals to opal doublets. The weight and purity of the gold or silver mountings also establish the standard of the piece.
The integration of supporting gemstones like diamonds and sapphires influences the overall refinement of the design. Craftsmanship is visible in the precision of the stone setting and the structural integrity of complex configurations such as fringe necklaces.
The Blue Opal Jewellery Glossary
- Cabochon
- A gemstone shaped and polished with a smooth, rounded surface rather than faceted. This cut is chosen for opals to display their internal colour flashes.
- Opal doublet
- A composite stone made of a thin layer of natural opal glued to a darker backing material, such as ironstone, to enhance the apparent body colour.
- Boulder opal
- An opal found embedded in its host rock, which remains attached to the back of the stone to provide a natural dark background for the play of colour.
- Festoon necklace
- A decorative chain necklace featuring suspended swags of beads, chains, or gemstone drops. Edwardian examples often incorporate fringe elements.
- Cluster ring
- A ring design featuring a central gemstone surrounded by a cluster of smaller stones, such as diamonds or sapphires set around an opal.
Blue Opal Jewellery: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these pieces come from?
The selection includes items from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, stretching into the 1900s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Maker styles transition from traditional and Arts and Crafts designs towards mid-century and modernist aesthetics.
How do I care for opal jewellery?
Opals contain water within their structure and are softer than diamonds, requiring gentle handling to avoid scratching.
Keep them away from harsh chemicals, sudden temperature changes, and ultrasonic cleaners.
What is the difference between solid opal and a doublet?
A solid opal consists entirely of precious opal material cut from a single piece of rough.
An opal doublet pairs a thin slice of natural opal with a dark backing layer to intensify the visible colours.
Are these pieces made of solid gold?
The mountings utilise various metal purities, including 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct yellow and white gold, alongside silver.
Each metal was chosen by the maker to complement the specific tone of the opal and any accent stones.