{"product_id":"australian-boulder-opal-silver-pendant-3013","title":"Boulder Opal Pendant – Sterling Silver, 3.47ct, Rare Red with Blue","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e.rotr-faq { border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; padding: 14px 4px; margin: 0; } .rotr-faq:first-of-type { border-top: 1px solid #e5e5e5; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary { cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding: 4px 0; outline: none; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary::after { content: \"+\"; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1; margin-left: 12px; transition: transform 0.2s ease; } .rotr-faq[open] \u003e summary::after { content: \"−\"; } .rotr-faq-answer { margin: 10px 0 0 0; }\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRed is the rarest colour in any opal, and this 3.47ct stone leads with it — the face carries a distinctly reddish pattern that's unusual enough to stop people mid-conversation. Secondary blue plays through it, the two colours shifting against each other across a semi-dark body as the stone catches the light from different angles. At 13×11mm it's a well-proportioned, compact-but-substantial stone — the kind of piece that doesn't need to be large to command attention. Bezel-set in sterling silver on a 45cm rhodium-plated chain. Red boulder opal of this quality does not come around often.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Boulder Opal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoulder 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach boulder opal is shaped by the natural geometry of the seam, so freeform and irregular shapes are common. The dark ironstone backing acts as a natural backdrop that intensifies the colour play above it — similar to how the dark body tone of a black opal works, but achieved by geology rather than gemmology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Solid Australian Boulder Opal (natural, untreated, ironstone matrix)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarat Weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.47ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13×11mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour Play:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominant red, secondary blue\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody Tone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Semi-dark\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrightness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSetting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bezel, sterling silver\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChain:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rhodium-plated, 45cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Queensland, Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCaring for Your Opal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpals are softer than diamonds or sapphires, so a little care keeps yours brilliant for generations. Boulder opal is more robust than other opal varieties thanks to its ironstone backing, but the precious opal layer still benefits from gentle treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/opal-care\"\u003eOpal Care\u003c\/a\u003e for storage, cleaning, and what to avoid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand-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. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/about-rocks-on-the-rocks\"\u003eRead Joseph's story →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs this a natural Australian opal?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eYes — a solid, natural boulder opal from Queensland. The opal and the ironstone backing are one piece, formed together in the ground. Not a doublet, not a triplet, not synthetic.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhy is there ironstone on the back of the stone?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eBoulder opal naturally forms as veins of opal within ironstone matrix. The opal can't be separated from its host rock without destroying the stone, so it's cut and polished as one piece. The ironstone backing is part of the natural stone — and it makes boulder opals more durable than other opal varieties.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhere does boulder opal come from?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eAlmost exclusively from the opal fields of central and south-west Queensland — Quilpie, Yowah, and Winton are the major producers. Joseph sources direct from these fields.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs the chain sterling silver?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eThe pendant setting is sterling silver. The chain is rhodium-plated — a platinum-group finish that resists tarnish and keeps the silver looking clean longer than uncoated silver.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCertification, shipping, returns?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eEvery piece is backed by Joseph's personal guarantee, ships fully insured within Australia, and can be returned within 14 days. See \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/buying-an-opal\"\u003eBuying an Opal\u003c\/a\u003e for the full breakdown.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a one-of-a-kind piece. Once sold, it cannot be replicated. Every opal at Rocks On The Rocks is hand-selected by Joseph for its individual character and quality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rocks On The Rocks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47261262348471,"sku":"3013","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/9176\/1987\/files\/OpBldPd1069.1_037ac515-f842-4130-aa83-472ce4291b44.jpg?v=1775026757","url":"https:\/\/www.rocksontherocks.com\/products\/australian-boulder-opal-silver-pendant-3013","provider":"Rocks On The Rocks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}