• Australian Opal Doublet Earrings in sterling silver
  • Australian Opal Doublet Earrings in sterling silver
  • Australian Opal Doublet Earrings in sterling silver
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Rocks On The Rocks

Opal Doublet Earrings – Sterling Silver, 14×11mm, Strong Red Flash

Opal Doublet Earrings – Sterling Silver, 14×11mm, Strong Red Flash

$780.00 AUD
$780.00 AUD
Sale Sold out
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These earrings carry a matched pair of Australian opal doublets, each stone sitting at 14×11mm in a bezel of sterling silver. The stones have a semi-dark body — dark enough that the colour reads with real contrast, warm rather than heavy — and the dominant colour is red: a strong, concentrated flash that catches the light and holds it. Red is the rarest fire colour opal produces, and at this size the effect is hard to miss. The bezel setting wraps each stone cleanly and keeps the profile low, so they sit comfortably and wear through the day without catching or snagging. French wires with safety hooks secure them from behind.

About Opal Doublet

An opal doublet is a thin slice of natural Australian opal cemented to a dark backing — usually ironstone or black potch (the common opal that doesn't carry colour play). Doublets are a legitimate technique used in the opal trade for over a century: solid opal thick enough to cut as a whole stone is rare, so using the precious opal layer efficiently means more people can own genuine Australian opal at a sensible price. The opal itself is the same material you'd find in a solid stone — just used more efficiently — and the dark backing intensifies the colour play above it.

Specifications

  • Stone: Opal Doublet
  • Dimensions: 14×11mm per stone
  • Colour Play: Strong red, multicolour
  • Body Tone: Semi-dark
  • Brightness: Strong
  • Setting: Bezel
  • Metal: Sterling Silver
  • Closure Type: French wires with safety hooks
  • Origin: Australia
  • Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 pair available

Caring for Your Opal

Opal is softer than diamond or sapphire, and doublets need extra care around water — prolonged exposure can degrade the bond between the opal layer and its backing. See Opal Care for the full routine including doublet-specific notes.

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

Why is red the rarest opal colour?
Opal colour comes from the way silica spheres inside the stone diffract light — different sphere sizes produce different colours. The sphere arrangement needed to produce red sits at the low end of the visible spectrum, and it occurs far less often in nature than the arrangements that produce green or blue. When red does appear, it's usually mixed with other colours or seen as a secondary flash; a stone where red dominates is uncommon. That's why red opal commands a premium over equivalent blue or green stones.
What does semi-dark body tone mean?
Semi-dark means the background of the stone sits between a light-bodied opal and a fully black one. It's dark enough to give the colour real contrast — the fire stands out clearly rather than washing into a pale background — but light enough that the stone reads with warmth rather than depth. On these earrings, the semi-dark body makes the red flash pop without the stone looking heavy on the ear.
Is this real Australian opal?
Yes — the opal layer is genuine natural Australian opal, the same material used in solid opal pieces. It's been crafted as a doublet, meaning the opal is cemented to a dark backing rather than left as a thicker solid stone. The opal itself is 100% natural and Australian.
How are these worn?
These earrings have French wires with safety hooks — they pass through pierced ears and the safety catch holds them in place from behind, so there's no risk of losing one through the day.
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.
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