{"product_id":"australian-black-opal-18kt-gold-pendant-2008","title":"Black Opal Pendant – 18K Gold, 2.12ct, Light Body, Diamond Accent","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\u003eA light-bodied black opal at 2.12 carats is a rare thing. Most Lightning Ridge material at this size carries a semi-dark or dark body — the light body tone here is unusual, giving the stone a warm, open quality rather than the high-contrast drama of its darker cousins. That warmth doesn't suppress the colour; it spreads it, producing a wide, diffuse play of light greens and shifting hues that reads differently at different angles. Set in bezel-style 18K yellow gold — a setting that wraps the stone rather than clawing it — with a diamond accent sitting above the opal, this is 12 × 10 mm of genuinely uncommon Lightning Ridge opal. Comes on an 18K gold-plated 45 cm chain, 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarat Weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.12ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12 × 10 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour Play:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multicolour — dominant light green\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody Tone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrightness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medium\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSetting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bezel, 18K yellow gold\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccent Stone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Diamond accent set above the opal\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChain:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18K yellow gold-plated, 45 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Solid natural opal — no treatments\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lightning Ridge, New South Wales\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 a light body tone mean on a black opal?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eBody tone describes how dark or pale the background of the stone is. A light body tone is unusual in black opal — most Lightning Ridge material runs darker. Here the stone's background sits on the lighter end of the spectrum, which gives the colour play a warmer, more open character than a fully dark-bodied stone. The colour is still vivid; it just sits in a softer, more luminous setting rather than punching out against a near-black background.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhat is the diamond accent on top?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eThe diamond accent is a small natural diamond set into the gold above the opal. It adds a point of bright white sparkle at the top of the pendant — a counterpoint to the diffuse colour of the opal below. It's a detail Joseph adds by hand in his Sydney workshop.\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. 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":44833982218423,"sku":"2008","price":2250.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/9176\/1987\/files\/OpBlkPd2096.1.jpg?v=1743829227","url":"https:\/\/www.rocksontherocks.com\/products\/australian-black-opal-18kt-gold-pendant-2008","provider":"Rocks On The Rocks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}