{"product_id":"australian-black-opal-18k-gold-pendant-2014","title":"Black Opal Pendant – 18K Gold, Crystal Body, Mixed Flash","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e.rotr-faq { border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; padding: 14px 4px; margin: 0; } .rotr-faq:first-of-type { border-top: 1px solid #e5e5e5; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary { cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding: 4px 0; outline: none; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary::after { content: \"+\"; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1; margin-left: 12px; transition: transform 0.2s ease; } .rotr-faq[open] \u003e summary::after { content: \"\\2212\"; } .rotr-faq-answer { margin: 10px 0 0 0; }\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA solid Australian black opal with a crystal body tone — translucent base, bright mixed flash that glows from within the stone rather than flashing off a dark backdrop. Joseph has set it in a delicate claw\/prong mount of 18K yellow gold that leaves the stone open and lets light pass through it from every angle. On a 45cm gold-plated chain, it sits lightly at the collarbone — a piece that rewards being worn in good light, where the colour shifts with every movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Black Opal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack opal is the rarest and most sought-after variety of Australian opal, mined almost exclusively from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales. Its dark body tone — from dark grey to jet black — creates a dramatic backdrop that intensifies the stone's natural play-of-colour, producing vivid flashes that appear to glow from within. Black opal with strong fire is particularly prized by collectors and is considered among the most valuable gemstones in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrystal and light-body black opals sit at the lighter end of the body-tone scale. Their base is translucent rather than opaque, so colour appears to glow from inside the stone rather than flashing off a dark background. This gives them a softer, more ethereal quality — different from a dark-body stone, but prized by collectors for exactly that reason. Both ends of the scale are valued; the stone's brightness and pattern quality matter more than body tone alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Solid Australian Black Opal (natural, untreated)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour Play:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mixed flash\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody Tone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crystal\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrightness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mixed\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSetting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Claw\/prong, 18K yellow gold\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Polished\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChain:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18K yellow gold-plated, 45cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCaring for Your Opal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpals are softer than diamonds or sapphires, so a little care keeps yours brilliant for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/opal-care\"\u003eOpal Care\u003c\/a\u003e for storage, cleaning, and what to avoid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand-selected by Joseph Bernecki, sourced direct from the Australian opal fields and set in his Sydney workshop. Meet him any weekend at The Rocks Market, stall under the bridge, Sydney. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/about-rocks-on-the-rocks\"\u003eRead Joseph's story →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs this a natural Australian opal?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eYes — a solid, untreated black opal from Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. Not a doublet, not a triplet, not synthetic. One stone, natural colour.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs the chain solid 18K gold or plated?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eThe pendant setting is solid 18K yellow gold. The chain is 18K yellow gold-plated — a standard pairing that keeps the piece accessible without compromising the setting. A solid 18K chain upgrade is available on request.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCertification, shipping, returns?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eEvery piece is backed by Joseph's personal guarantee, ships fully insured within Australia, and can be returned within 14 days. See \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/buying-an-opal\"\u003eBuying an Opal\u003c\/a\u003e for the full breakdown.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eHow should I store and clean it?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eStore in a soft pouch, clean gently with a slightly damp cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals. See \"Caring for Your Opal\" above for the full routine.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhat does crystal body tone mean?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eCrystal body tone means the opal's base is translucent rather than dark opaque. Light passes through it, so colour glows from within the stone — a softer, luminous effect compared to a dark-body opal's more dramatic flash. It's a different character, not a lesser one; collectors prize both.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a one-of-a-kind piece. Once sold, it cannot be replicated. Every opal at Rocks On The Rocks is hand-selected by Joseph for its individual character and quality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rocks On The Rocks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45295269281975,"sku":"2014","price":770.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/9176\/1987\/files\/OpBlkPd2101.5.jpg?v=1758779999","url":"https:\/\/www.rocksontherocks.com\/products\/australian-black-opal-18k-gold-pendant-2014","provider":"Rocks On The Rocks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}