Boulder Opal Earrings – 18K Gold, 3.28ct TCW, Green, Diamond Accents

Green is the dominant note here — a rich, earthy green that shifts as the light moves, the kind of colour that reads differently against skin than it does in a photograph. Each stone in the pair is bezel-set in 18K yellow gold, with small bezel-set diamonds framing the opal's edge. At 3.28ct total, the stones sit with quiet weight on the ear: not oversized, not delicate — present. The semi-dark body gives the colour real contrast without the stone reading heavy. Queensland boulder opal, solid and natural, nothing added.

About Boulder Opal

Boulder opal forms as veins of precious opal within ironstone matrix in the opal fields of Queensland — primarily Quilpie, Yowah and Winton. Unlike black opal from Lightning Ridge, the opal cannot be separated from its host rock; it's cut as a single solid piece, with the natural brown ironstone remaining as the stone's backing. This gives boulder opal its distinctive look — vivid colour against rich earth tones — and also makes it physically more durable than other opals, since the ironstone host is harder than the opal layer it carries.

Specifications

• Stone: Boulder Opal
• Total Carat Weight (TCW): 3.28ct (pair)
• Colour Play: Green
• Body Tone: Semi-dark
• Brightness: Strong colour
• Setting: Bezel
• Accent Stones: Small bezel-set diamonds
• Metal: 18K yellow gold
• Closure Type: Stud — post-and-butterfly
• Origin: Queensland, Australia
• Treatment: Solid natural — untreated
• Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 pair available

Caring for Your Opal

Opal is softer than diamond or sapphire, so a little care goes a long way. See Opal Care for storage, cleaning, and what to avoid.

Provenance

Hand-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. Read Joseph's story →

Common Questions