• Australian Boulder Opal Silver Bracelet
  • Australian Boulder Opal Silver Bracelet
  • Australian Boulder Opal Silver Bracelet
  • Australian Boulder Opal Silver Bracelet
  • Australian Boulder Opal Silver Bracelet
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Rocks On The Rocks

Boulder Opal Bracelet – Sterling Silver, 3D-Carved Stones, Semi-Dark Blue

Boulder Opal Bracelet – Sterling Silver, 3D-Carved Stones, Semi-Dark Blue

$790.00 AUD
$790.00 AUD
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Most boulder opal is set as flat-faced cabochons — polished to a smooth dome and left at that. These stones are different. Each one has been carved in three dimensions, shaped so the opal's surface has real topography: depth, contour, form you can feel as well as see. The blue colour play shifts as the bracelet moves, catching light differently against the ironstone matrix that naturally frames each stone. It's the kind of piece that looks simple at a glance and then keeps revealing itself — the carving gives it a sculptural quality you don't often find in wrist-worn opal jewellery. Set in sterling silver with a bezel that holds each stone close to the skin. Semi-dark body tone, medium brightness — the colour is present and direct without being loud.

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 (solid)
  • Colour Play: Blue
  • Body Tone: Semi-dark
  • Brightness: Medium
  • Shape: 3D-carved sculptural stones
  • Setting: Bezel
  • Metal: Sterling Silver
  • Origin: Queensland, Australia
  • Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available

Caring for Your Opal

Opal is softer than diamond or sapphire, so a little care goes a long way. See Opal Care for storage, cleaning, and what to avoid.

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

Are the stones carved or natural shape?
The stones in this bracelet have been carved in three dimensions — shaped beyond the standard round or oval cabochon so the surface has real contour and depth. This is deliberate craft work, not a natural accident of the opal's growth. Three-dimensional carved opal is less common than flat-faced stones; it takes more material and more time, and the result is a stone that has sculptural presence rather than just sitting flat in the setting.
What does semi-dark body tone mean for boulder opal?
Boulder opal's "body" is the combined visual effect of the opal layer and its ironstone backing. Semi-dark means the background reads as a mid-to-dark earth tone — the stone doesn't look pale or washed out, but it's not jet black either. On a boulder opal in particular, the ironstone matrix contributes to that warmth, so the blue colour play sits against a rich, grounded background rather than a stark one.
Is this a natural Australian opal?
Yes — a solid, untreated Boulder Opal from Queensland. Not a doublet, not a triplet, not synthetic. The opal and its ironstone host are one piece, as it came from the ground.
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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