Opal Doublet Pendant – Sterling Silver, 11×9mm, Strong Red Flash

Red is the rarest colour in Australian opal — rarer than green, blue, or violet — and this doublet leads with it. The opal layer flashes a strong, saturated red with the kind of immediacy that makes you turn the piece in your hand to chase it. Set in a sterling silver bezel at 11×9mm, it sits squarely on the collarbone at the end of a 45cm chain — present enough to be noticed, compact enough to wear every day. The dark backing amplifies the red above it, the way a deep wall makes a lit painting glow harder than it otherwise would.

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: Australian Opal Doublet
• Dimensions: 11×9mm
• Colour Play: Red dominant
• Brightness: Strong flash
• Pattern: Flash of colour
• Treatment: Doublet
• Setting: Bezel, sterling silver
• Chain: Rhodium-plated, 45cm
• Origin: Australia
• Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece 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