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. This solid natural black opal, measuring slightly over 1 carat, dazzles with a vibrant array of colors—green, blue, gold, and orange—visible from every angle. Its color pattern features a mix of chaff and harlequin, with brushstrokes and blocks of color layered on top of one another. This opal exhibits excellent brilliance without being overly directional, looking beautiful from all perspectives.

The vintage mounting, stamped with British hallmarks, was designed to enhance the opal's vivid colors. The opal is bezel-set at the center, encircled by textured gold blocks that echo the color chunks within the gem. Although the ring is not large in size, it makes a substantial statement on the hand, measuring over 1/2 inch in length. A genuine statement piece, this ring seamlessly combines vintage craftsmanship with the mesmerizing beauty of a top-tier black opal, making it a true treasure for any collector or opal enthusiast. 

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