Boulder Opal Pendant – 18K Gold, Vivid Red, Diamond Accents

Red is the rarest colour in Australian opal, and this Queensland boulder opal carries it strongly — a vivid, broad sweep of red with light green playing through it, set in an 18K yellow gold bezel with a cluster of small diamonds around the stone. The gold warms against the ironstone matrix; the diamonds pull your eye into the colour without competing with it. A serious piece — the kind you buy once and wear for decades.

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: Australian Boulder Opal
• Colour Play: Red dominant with light green secondary — strong, vivid play of colour
• Brightness: Strong colour
• Setting: Bezel
• Accent Stones: Few small bezel-set diamonds
• Metal: 18K Yellow Gold
• Chain: 18K gold-plated chain, 45cm
• Treatment: Solid natural — untreated
• Origin: Queensland, Australia
• Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece 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