• Australian Boulder opal set in 18 K gold pendant
  • Australian Boulder opal set in 18 K gold pendant
  • Australian Boulder opal set in 18 K gold pendant
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Rocks On The Rocks

Boulder Opal Pendant – 18K Gold, 1.55ct, Light Red & Green

Boulder Opal Pendant – 18K Gold, 1.55ct, Light Red & Green

$1,750.00 AUD
$1,750.00 AUD
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Light red is an unusual colour for Australian opal — green is common, blue is common, but that warm red-to-crimson range tends to appear in stones that command a premium. Here it sits alongside bright green, the two colours shifting against each other as the piece moves. At 1.55 carats in a solid bezel setting, this is a stone that reads clearly from arm's length: not a small accent, not a dainty flash, but a pendant that holds its own. The ironstone backing that came with the stone in the ground is still there, doing what it always did — giving that colour something to push against.

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
  • Carat Weight: 1.55ct
  • Colour Play: Light red and green
  • Brightness: Bright
  • Treatment: Solid natural — untreated
  • Setting: Bezel, 18K yellow gold
  • Chain: 18K yellow gold-plated, 45 cm
  • 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

Is the chain solid gold or plated?
The 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.
Is light red colour rare in opal?
Yes — red is the rarest end of the opal colour spectrum. Opals that show red — and especially those where red is the dominant colour rather than a brief flash — are consistently the most sought-after at auction and among collectors. The light red here sits at the warm, rose-to-crimson end rather than deep spectral red, but the colour is genuine and uncommon in boulder opal.
Is this a natural Australian opal?
Yes — a solid, untreated boulder opal from Queensland. Not a doublet, not a triplet, not synthetic. One stone, natural colour, with its original ironstone backing intact from the ground.
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.

Each piece is one-of-a-kind. Once this stone sells, there is no other like it.

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