Sunfire Opal Necklace

A small pool of color that refuses to sit still.

Sunfire centers on a faceted oval Ethiopian Welo opal whose play-of-color shifts through flashes of pink, orange, yellow, and green as the stone moves through the light. Rather than using a traditional closed setting, the opal is held in a sterling silver crown bezel with an open back, allowing additional light to enter the stone and illuminate its natural fire.

The faceting gives the opal an unusual character, part gemstone, part captured light, with each angle revealing something slightly different. The silver setting keeps the focus on the stone while adding a delicate antique-inspired edge around its perimeter. Photographed in both indirect natural light and direct sunlight to show the opal’s natural play-of-color under different lighting conditions.

Suspended from a 20-inch sterling silver chain, Sunfire is luminous without feeling formal, a quiet little blaze of color meant to be discovered differently every time it is worn.

Details

• Faceted Ethiopian Welo opal
• Oval stone measures approximately 10mm x 8mm
• Sterling silver crown bezel setting
• Open-backed setting designed to allow additional light through the opal
• Sterling silver chain
• Approximately 20 inches long

A Note About This Opal: This Ethiopian Welo opal is not hydrophane, meaning it does not readily absorb water or other liquids into its internal structure the way many Ethiopian opals can. That makes it less prone to the temporary transparency or color changes sometimes seen when hydrophane opals become wet. As with all natural opals, gentle care and mindful wear is still recommended. 

Curious to learn more about what makes opal such an unusual gemstone? Visit Beyond Precious Opal in the Larsen Jewelry Museum Guide for a closer look at opal formation, play-of-color, structure, and care.