{"product_id":"australian-black-opal-18k-gold-pendant-2015","title":"Black Opal Pendant – 18K Gold, 3.61ct, Crystal Body, Multicolour","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: \"−\"; } .rotr-faq-answer { margin: 10px 0 0 0; }\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt 3.61 carats, this is a substantial stone — large enough that the colour play commands the piece rather than accentuating it. The opal is a crystal-body black opal from Lightning Ridge: light passes through those silica layers and throws the multicolour fire back at you with a reddish warmth dominant through the palette. It sits in an 18K yellow gold claw setting that holds the stone securely while keeping the full face open to the light, and a small bezel-set diamond accent adds a point of brilliance without competing with the opal. The chain is 18K gold-plated, 45 cm, ready to wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Black Opal\u003c\/h3\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\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black Opal (solid, natural)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarat Weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.61ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour Play:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multicolour with reddish dominant\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 Light\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\u003eAccent:\u003c\/strong\u003e A small bezel-set diamond accent\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChain:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18K gold-plated, 45 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lightning Ridge, NSW, 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\u003ch3\u003eCaring for Your Opal\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpal is softer than diamond or sapphire, so a little care goes a long way. See \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/opal-care\"\u003eOpal Care\u003c\/a\u003e for storage, cleaning, and what to avoid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\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\u003ch3\u003eCommon Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhat does crystal body tone mean for a black opal?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eCrystal body tone means the stone is translucent — light actually travels through the silica layers and refracts back as colour, rather than bouncing off a solid dark backdrop. On a black opal, this creates a different quality of fire from a fully opaque dark stone: the colour has depth and appears to glow from inside rather than sit on the surface. The reddish dominant in this stone is the kind that benefits from that translucency — it shifts and deepens as the angle changes.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs the chain solid 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\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, NSW. Not a doublet, not a triplet, not synthetic. One stone, natural colour.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\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","brand":"Rocks On The Rocks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45505000603831,"sku":"2015","price":1950.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/9176\/1987\/files\/OpBlkPd2107.1.jpg?v=1765074464","url":"https:\/\/www.rocksontherocks.com\/products\/australian-black-opal-18k-gold-pendant-2015","provider":"Rocks On The Rocks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}