Boulder Opal Necklace – Leather Cord, Diamond Cut, Purple & Blue

This Boulder Opal is cut as a diamond-shaped cabochon, tapering to a point at each end. The colour runs deep purple-blue across almost the whole face, with a band of paler blue curling near the crown of the stone, and fine gold-brown ironstone flecks scattered through the colour rather than confined to the edges — a reminder that this piece is opal grown through its host rock, not a thin layer sitting on top of it. It hangs from a plain black leather cord, drilled through the stone with no metal bail, letting the shape and colour of the stone do all the work.

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
• Shape: Diamond (kite) cabochon
• Colour Play: Deep purple-blue across the face, with pale blue banding near the crown and scattered gold ironstone flecks throughout
• Setting: Drilled through the stone and threaded directly onto the cord — no metal bail
• Chain: Black leather cord
• Origin: Queensland
• 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