Opal Doublet Pendant – Sterling Silver, 10×9mm, Strong Red Stripe

A strong red stripe runs clean across this stone — the kind of colour that stops you. Red is the rarest hue in Australian opal, and here it appears as a bold, unbroken band of straw-patterned colour that shifts as the pendant moves. Set in a sterling silver bezel, this 10×9mm doublet wears close to the skin: compact enough for everyday, vivid enough to draw a second look. The rhodium-plated chain keeps things clean and tarnish-resistant on a 45cm drop — a length that sits just above the collarbone, letting the stone speak for itself.

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 (natural Australian opal)
• Dimensions: 10×9mm
• Colour Play: Red dominant
• Brightness: Strong colour
• Pattern: Straw / striped
• Treatment: Doublet
• Setting: Bezel, sterling silver
• Chain: Rhodium-plated, 45cm
• Origin: Australian
• 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