Mid-Century Gold Ring with Lightning Ridge Black Opal

Few opals are as impressive as this beauty, which has found a home in an iconic mid-century modern ring. The solid natural black opal, just over 1 carat in size, screams with color from every angle —a kaleidoscope of green, blue, gold, and orange. The color pattern here is a combination of chaff and harlequin, with brushstrokes and blocks of color stacked on top of each other. While this opal has excellent brilliance of color, it is not overly directional- it is beautiful from every angle. The vintage mounting, featuring British hallmarks, was designed to complement this color pattern. The opal is bezel-set in the center, surrounded by textured gold blocks reminiscent of the color chunks within the gem. The ring is not massive, but it has a substantial presence on the hand, measuring over 1/2 inch in length. A genuine statement piece, this ring seamlessly blends vintage craftsmanship with the mesmerizing allure of a top-tier black opal, making it a treasure for any collector or opal lover.

Details: vintage opal ring in 9k yellow gold set with approximately 1.25ct black opal (Lightning Ridge, Australia) with textured gold accents, c.1970.