ORIGIN
Lightning Ridge (NSW) Australia

DIMENSIONS
7.2mm diameter x 2.15mm deep

CARAT WEIGHT
0.71ct

CUT
Round shaped cabochon

DESCRIPTION
White body tone, with subtle orange, pink, blue and green colour flashes, mixed pattern, translucent, good cut and polish.

CUTTER Ralph Pownall

TREATMENT
None

COMMENTS This opal has subtle directional colour flashes of orange, pink, blue and green against a soft white body tone. It would make a lovely ring or pendant stone. 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.