Australian Boulder Opal Necklace on Leather – Amber Ironstone, Blue-Purple Flash

This boulder opal pendant hangs from a black leather cord, threaded straight through the stone with no metal setting in between. The elongated, triangular cabochon keeps its natural ironstone edge, so warm amber tones swirl across the surface with streaks of blue and violet colour play running through the centre. There's a raw, sculptural quality to the shape — it reads more like a polished slice of stone than a conventional cut gem, and it sits close to the body on an adjustable cord. Simple, wearable, and entirely one of a kind.

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
• Colour Play: Blue and violet flashes through amber ironstone
• Shape: Elongated freeform cabochon
• Setting: None — cord threaded directly through the stone
• Chain: Adjustable black leather cord
• Origin: Queensland, Australia (boulder opal fields)
• 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