In the box

1x genuine solid Australian Semi Black Crystal Opal

Dimensions of the Opal surface diagonally measured is: approx. 39mm x 13mm or 18.25ct 

This unique piece of Australian Opal is called "Christmas Reef", featuring multiple small to medium sized windows of green, blue, aqua and purple creating a sensation of intense sparkle and flashes throughout this incredibly large gem of highest quality, creating a solid play of colors no matter what angle it is held on.

Due to its large size we would suggest this to be set in an awe inspiring pendant.

Please note, the back of this incredible gem has some polishing carvings that were done whilst getting it out of the ground. We have left them in place to preserve the carat size of this amazing gem and suggest to put a closed or partly closed back onto it. This minor hiccup is reflected in the price.

If you do not have access to a qualified jeweler who is versed in setting Opals, we would like to encourage you to have a look at our finished pieces of jewelry instead. Feel free to take some inspiration from them to suit your very own unique Solid Semi Black Opal.

For sale is our carefully designed and meticulously handcrafted private Solid Australian Opal collection. Every piece in this collection is a true account of how these rare gemstones are mined, polished, sourced and ultimately set in a piece of unique jewelry, representing incredible value in today’s market. Proudly Australian made and owned in Far North Queensland, where the rain forest meets the reef.

Please read our notes below before you buy! We would like our customers to make an informed decision in order to avoid unnecessary returns.

Welcome to the world of the genuine solid Australian Opal

We would like to introduce you to the fascinating world of the Solid Australian Opal. The variety of the colors and shapes of this gemstone are never ending. Captivated and inspired by that amazing fact we have made it our passion to complement to these attributes with our imagination and finest craftsmanship. The product we are able to sell today is not only of finest quality but tasteful, unique and affordable.

What you can expect

Our emphasis lies in the detail:

• All our jewellery is set in 18kt gold

• Only solid genuine Australian Opals are used in our jewellery No doublets or triplets

• Our jewellery is individually designed complementing every gemstone’s unique shape and colors

• All our jewellery is handcrafted

• Every piece is unique

• Even though our pieces have been pre-owned, most have never been worn and all are in immaculate and in “as new” condition

Some facts about Opals

Opal stands for confidence, serenity and purity.

The word Opal most likely stems from the Latin (Opalus) and means: “ to see a change in color. It is therefore not surprising that the Opal is the only gemstone known which can diffract white light into all the marvelous rainbow colors.

It is this fascinating play of colors the Opal has become famous and highly regarded for. Over the last fifty years Opals have appreciated their value at a steady rate. Therefore it can be safely said, that they offer a tremendous investment potential to their buyers. Nowadays Opal is regarded as one of the worlds most precious gemstones that is becoming rarer and rarer.

The different types of Opal

Precious Opal is very rare. 95% of the worlds precious Opal comes from Australia.The following five categories of Opal are the ones we create our jewellery with.

Black Opal:

• Opal with a very dark (black) body color.

• Its surface can show all rainbow colors.

• Rarest among all Opals.

• Only mined in two places in Australia: Lightning Ridge (NSW) and Mintabie (SA).

Semi Black Opal:

• This Opal has a grey to dark grey background. Not dark enough to be classified as Black Opal.

• Its surface can show all rainbow colors.

Boulder Opal:

• This Opal’s host rock is ironstone and it is a natural part of the stone. Often it protrudes to the surface of the stone emphasizing its individuality.

• The surface can show all rainbow colors.

• Almost exclusively mined in Queensland

White Opal:

• Considered the original fire Opal since it was the first ever minded Opal.

• It features a white or light background.

• The surface can show all rainbow colors.

• Mostly mined in Cooper Pedy and Mintabie (SA).

Crystal Opal:

• Transparent or translucent Opal where the colors are sharp and visible below the surface.

• It can feature all the rainbow colors.

• Crystal Opals are clear enough to see through in the light. When held against a dark background the colors of this type of Opal really come to life and sparkle even more amazingly. For this reason we set some of these Opals against a golden backing.

• Solid stone cut from all the Opals mentioned above.

Be aware of the fakes

Since Opals are rare and considerably high in price, man has introduced fake stones, which at first sight might look like the real ones but in comparison offer only very small value.

Doublets

A very fine layer of Opal has been cemented to a piece of potch (ironstone or plastic).

Triplets

They are Doublets with a glass or plastic dome glued onto the Opal layer. The Opal used in Triplets usually is even finer (fraction of a millimeter) than the ones used for Doublets.

!We only use solid genuine Australian Opals, no Doublets, no Triplets!

The value of an Opal

Our aim is to provide our customers with a sound understanding of the valuation process of an Opal, so they feel confident in choosing the perfect gem for themselves.

The following criteria are equally important to determine the value of an Opal.But buying an Opal is not just about technical information and the complicated and lengthy process of the valuation that challenges even the experts.It is mainly about the rare and unique beauty of the Opal and the fact that each person will appreciate it differently. It is true, beauty does lie within the eye of the beholder.

Brightness and Brilliance

Often referred to as the “fire” of a stone. The intensity and liveliness of the sparks are decisive to the value of the gem.

Color and Pattern

The play of color, the rainbow within the stone, both crucially important. Colors should be deep, clear and plentiful, where red is regarded as the rarest of them. Patterns such as harlequin, straw, ribbon and rolling flash are very rare and add great value.

Size

The bigger and heavier, the more valuable the Opal.

Type

For an Opal to represent value, it has to be a solid stone. Black Opal is the rarest Opal and therefore reflects excellent value. Still all the other criteria must be incorporated in the valuation process.

The value of Doublets and Triplets is only a fraction of that of a solid Opal.

Inclusions

Since inclusions can have an impact on the brightness of the Opal they lower its value. An exemption is the Boulder Opal, where inclusions mostly enhance the gems extraordinary pattern, its individuality and therefore its value.

How to care for solid Opals

Solid Opals are very easy to care for. In fact if cared for in a reasonable manner Opal jewellery will last forever.

We advise our customers not to wear their Opal jewellery when gardening, cleaning or for labor that involves heavy manual handling.

Soil and sand are abrasive and will scratch the Opal and the gold. Accidental hits or knocks could split or crack the gem.

It is a myth that Opals need moisture and therefore completely unnecessary to submerge them in water for any length of time.

Equally, solid Opals do not mind the water.

Other gemstones and materials we use

• Genuine Australian Gold nugget

Found in the Australian Outback the Gold nugget represents a very rare and unspoiled piece of nature. Shaped over millions of years by nature’s forces, found by the adventurous gold prospectors and set by us. The nuggets used in our jewellery were found in the Palmer River in Queensland, Australia.

• Diamonds

The spark of a Diamond can complement the dramatic beauty of the Opal. All Diamonds we use in our fine jewellery are of highest quality. The grades we use are: G/H, SI1/VS

Digital Photography

Gemstones appear larger in a photo than in reality. This is because a 10mm stone will show in the item listing photo as a 100mm stone on an average size laptop screen. Please check in the “item specifics” section for the actual dimensions of all listed items.

It is challenging to representing opal with 100% accuracy in digital photography as:

1. Light is registered differently with the human eye as compared to that of the digital camera.

2. Each person’s perception and vision are slightly differently to another.

3. There is a variation in many computer screens and the way colors are reflected.

4. The colors and patterns of an Opal are a result of a complex combination of refraction, diffraction, diffusion and reflection of light from the opal structure. Different light sources and different light intensities will change the appearance the Opal’s color effects.

To compensate for these factors we can provide a video of the Opal you're interested in upon request.

Please don't hesitate to ask!

Questions and how to contact us

Should you need any further information on any item, or would like to see more photos of a particular piece of jewellery, or for any other general inquiries please do not hesitate and write to us before you order.

We value your business and will respond to your request as quickly as possible.

Our returns policy

We do accept returns from our Australian buyers within 30 days of receipt of the goods.

We ask our buyers to contact us within 3 days of receipt of the goods if they wish to return an item.

Insurance and postage to send the item back to us are to be paid by the buyer. Please note that every item needs to be insured to its full purchase price when returning it.

We require our customers to return the goods undamaged, unaltered, unworn and in their original packaging.

Once we have received the undamaged, unaltered and unworn returned item we will issue a full refund minus our initial freight and handling charges, which vary depending on where the item had to be sent to. Please be aware that insuring a piece of jewellery for shipping is extremely expensive and can cost hundreds of dollars. We implore you to make as many inquiries with us as you need before you purchase to avoid unnecessary returns.

Unfortunately, due international shipping and custom rules we are unable to accept returns from our international buyers and apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused.

Shipping within Australia and Internationally

We pack and ship within one business day after total payment is received and cleared. Items are sent via trackable express post though Australia Post.

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS will normally receive their goods within14 TO 21 BUSINESS DAYS. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND That the CUSTOMS/BORDER PROTECTION of your own country CAN HOLD GOODS FOR UNDISCLOSED PERIODS OF TIME FOR INSPECTIONS AND PROCESSING and unfortunately we are unable to control these time frames.

If you wish for your goods to be sent in a different way than what we offer and you would like to discuss other carriers, please don’t hesitate and contact us for more information on what is available and at what extra cost.

Duty and Taxes for international buyers

Please be aware that if you live outside of Australia import duty and taxes may apply to the items purchased from us.

Please Note: You as a buyer are solely responsible for customs duties if required. Please check information for duties with your country’s customs prior to purchasing our products!

General Policies and limitation of liability

All items listed for sale remain the property of the seller, until full and final payment has been received and cleared by the relevant banking institute and we are satisfied that the transaction is not fraudulent.

Please note that we cannot be held liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or other damages resulting from any product purchased from us in any way or form at any time.

A big Thank-you to our customers

We are very proud of the number of happy and content customers we have been able to serve over the years and would like to send out a huge Thank-you to all our longstanding and returning customers that make it possible for us to be creative and different!