This Art Deco ring with an opal is handcrafted in 10k yellow gold with black, white and gold enamel accents, weighs 4.9g and measures 29mm wide and 5.5mm deep. An authentic Art Deco work of art, this alluring ring of exquisite artisan-ship exposes an oval opal cabochon weighing 3.64cts, measuring 16.72mm long and 5.5mm deep, graded a delightful 'opalescent greenish-pink' color, mounted within an ovular yellow gold bezel setting. An intriguing, color-contrasted black and white enamel rim surrounds the colorful center-stone, designed in geometrically inspired, alternately rendered rectangular components and enhanced by slender gold enamel contours. A highly elaborate marquise-shaped frame, artfully rendered in gold-wire, constitutes the perimeter of this exquisite antique Art Deco ring, embellished with quatre-foil decoration in textured and repousse gold of Architectural Revival inspiration. The equally ornate, fleur-de-lis themed shoulders soldered beneath the marquise panel and delicately chased on the borders descend diminutively to merge into a spherical yellow gold band and an easily sizable shank.

Reflected in the manifold opulence of fine opals is all the splendor of nature; fire, lightning, colors of the rainbow and the shine of the far seas. Numerous legends surround this colorful gemstone, which can be traced back to the ancient time of Australian aborigines. One tale recounts that the creator came down to earth on a rainbow to bestow peace upon all human beings and, as his feet touched the ground, all stones beneath them began sparkling in all the colors of the rainbow. That, according to the legend, was the birth of the opals. Australia is in fact the opal's classical country of origin with ninety-five percent of all fine opals originating from its remote and dry deserts. The history of opals began millions of years ago when parts of Australia were covered by a vast inland sea and stone sediment was deposited along the shoreline. With the flooding back of water masses, water containing silica was flushed back into the cavities of the sedimentary rocks and the resulting silica stone was gradually transformed into opal. The origin of the name opal is believed to be in the Sanskrit word 'upala' meaning 'valuable stone', being in turn the root of the Greek term 'opallios' which translates as 'color change'. In the days of the Roman antiquity, there existed a so-called 'opalus' or a 'stone from several elements' which indicates that the ancient Romans already had an idea about the opal's striking play of color. Relatively unknown and rarely used until mid-nineteenth century, opals were developed by gemstone cutters of Idar Oberstein in Germany and gradually became one of the most popular gemstones in Europe, reaching a popularity peak during the Art Deco era. Their subdued charm made them a favorite with period artisans due to the fact that they are an ideal companion to enamel, frequently used and highly prized during the Art Deco period. The phenomenon causing the opal's fascinating color play, termed by experts as 'opalising', remained unknown for a very long time and it wasn't until the 1960's that a team of Australian scientists analyzed opals with an electron microscope to discover that small spheres from silica gel caused interference and refraction manifestations by dissecting the light as it passed through the gemstone, creating a rainbow of colors. Opals are not particularly hard, graded 5.5 to 6 on Mohs' scale, and due to the fact that they usually contain between 2 and 6 percent water, they may show fissures if stored in too dry an environment or exposed to excessive heat. The fantastic color play of opal is like human emotions; one always experiences them different and anew.

D1228R2O

Suggested Retail Price: $1,800.00 Your Price: $1,170.00 $750.00 Wholesale Price: $900.00