Australian Boulder Opal Specimen – Silver Snake Overlay, Blue-Green Colour Play, 0.16kg

This Australian Boulder Opal specimen pairs a natural ironstone form with a hand-carved sterling silver overlay in a snake motif, wrapped around part of the stone's surface. The opal face carries vivid blue and green colour play against the dark ironstone, with the polished opal left open where the silver carving frames it. It's a distinctive combination piece — the natural mineral formation on one side, fine relief silverwork on the other — better suited to a display stand or cabinet than a jewellery box.

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 (natural ironstone matrix)
• Weight: 0.16kg
• Size:  55 x 50 x 40 mm
• Colour Play: Blue and green with ironrock 
• Detail: Hand-carved silver overlay in a snake motif
• Origin: Queensland, Australia
• Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available

Caring for Your Opal Specimen

Boulder opal is more durable than solid opal because of its ironstone backing, but the silver overlay on this piece is worth handling with a little extra care. Hold it by the body rather than the fine carved edges, keep it away from sudden temperature swings, and avoid knocking it against hard surfaces. Dust with a soft, dry cloth; silver can tarnish over time and can be cleaned gently with a standard silver polishing cloth, taking care to avoid the opal face. Keep away from direct, prolonged heat sources.

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