AUSTRALIAN LIGHTNING RIDGE NSW PEAR CABOCHON OPAL 2.23CT
AUSTRALIAN LIGHTNING RIDGE NSW PEAR CABOCHON OPAL 2.23CT
ORIGIN
Lightning Ridge (NSW) Australia
DIMENSIONS
12mm x 7.3mm diameter x 4mm deep
CARAT WEIGHT
2.23ct
CUT
Pear shaped cabochon
DESCRIPTION
Light grey body tone, with bright to brilliant mixed green, orange and blue colour flashes, double sided colour, mixed pattern, translucent, good cut and polish.
CUTTER Ralph Pownall
TREATMENT
None
COMMENTS This pretty opal has brilliant green, orange and blue colour flashes against a soft light body tone. It would be perfect as a centre stone in a ring, or in a pendant. In Australian Aboriginal legend, opal was termed the ‘Rainbow Serpent” and was admired for its unique energy and beauty. Today, more than 95% of the world’s opal is mined in Australia. Opal is Australia’s national gemstone and is considered the finest and brightest in the world. It can convey a mood that is as varied as its type. Types include white opal, crystal, boulder, matrix, Yowah nuts and the most famous of all – high-quality Lightning Ridge material from NSW, the home of the Australian black opal.
DURABILITY Opal is a softer gemstone – at 5.5-6.5 on Mohs scale – and is recommended for occasional wear. Wearers should take care to avoid abrasion and hard knocks on their opal jewellery.