• Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm
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Rocks On The Rocks

Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm

Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm

$550.00 AUD
$550.00 AUD
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

This rough black opal specimen comes straight from the opal fields at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, left largely as it was found. A polished window on one face opens onto blue, green and pink flashes of colour, while the rest of the piece keeps its natural, chalky sandstone-toned matrix intact, tracing the seam the opal formed within. Held in the hand it has real heft and presence — more a piece of geology than a cut gemstone, the kind of specimen collectors keep on a shelf or desk as a genuine sample of where Australian opal comes from.

About Black Opal

Black 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.

Specifications

  • Stone: Natural Australian black opal, rough specimen
  • Weight: 0.25kg
  • Dimensions: 75 x 70 x 40mm
  • Colour Play: Blue, green and pink flashes of colour visible through a polished window
  • Matrix: Natural sandy/claystone host rock left intact around the opal
  • Origin: Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia
  • Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available

Caring for Your Specimen

This is a natural opal specimen meant for display rather than wear. Handle it by the base rather than the thinnest edges, and keep it somewhere it won't be knocked or dropped — opal is softer than many other minerals and chips easily along an edge. Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as moving it from a cold room straight into direct sun or near a heater. A soft, dry cloth is enough to keep it dust-free.

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

Is this a natural Australian opal?
Yes — this is a natural, untreated opal specimen straight from Lightning Ridge. It has not been dyed, treated or assembled as a doublet or triplet; the colour play you see is the opal's own.
What is the pale material around the opal?
That's the specimen's natural host rock — the sandy claystone matrix the opal formed within. Leaving it intact is part of what makes a specimen interesting: you can see exactly how the opal sits in the ground it was found in.
Is this specimen polished or natural?
It appears to have been lightly ground back on one face to reveal the colour play, while the rest of the specimen is left in its natural, rough state — a common way of presenting an opal specimen for display.
Certification, shipping, returns?
Every piece is backed by Joseph's personal guarantee, ships fully insured within Australia, and can be returned within 14 days. See Buying an Opal for the full breakdown.
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