Boulder Opal Earrings – 18K Gold, 4.18ct TCW, Diamond Accents

A pair of Queensland boulder opals that earn their price before you even look closely. The stones sit semi-dark — background dark enough to push the colour forward without making the piece feel heavy — and the flash is bright: the kind that shifts as you move and catches light from across the room. Bezel-set in 18K yellow gold with diamond accents framing each stone, the result is a pair of earrings that works as well at a dinner table as on display in a jewellery box. At 4.18ct total weight, there is real stone here — not a sliver.

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): 4.18ct (pair)
• Colour Play: Flash of colour
• Body Tone: Semi-dark
• Brightness: Bright
• Pattern: Flash of colour
• Setting: Bezel
• Accent Stones: Bezel-set diamonds
• Metal: 18K yellow gold
• Closure Type: Post and butterfly (standard push-back)
• Origin: Queensland, Australia
• Treatment: Natural solid — 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