Opal Doublet Pendant – Sterling Silver, 17×19mm, Strong Red Flash, CZ Accents

At 17×19mm, this is a large stone by any measure — the kind of piece you notice before you reach for it. The opal layer carries a strong flash of red, the rarest colour in Australian opal, and the effect is direct: the stone catches light and throws it back in a single bold movement rather than a slow sweep. A small cluster of cubic zirconia sits above the stone in the setting, adding quiet sparkle that frames the opal without competing with it. The bezel wraps the opal cleanly in sterling silver, and the pendant hangs on a 45cm solid sterling silver chain — not rhodium-plated, solid — chosen by Joseph specifically for this piece. It wears as a statement without announcing itself: large enough to carry across a room, precise enough to reward close attention.

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: 17×19mm
• Colour Play: Strong red dominant
• Brightness: Strong
• Pattern: Flash of colour
• Treatment: Doublet
• Setting: Bezel
• Accent Stones: Cluster of cubic zirconia set above the stone
• Chain: Solid sterling silver, 45cm
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• 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