Australian Opal Doublet Necklace With Chain

Australian Opal Doublet Necklace With Chain

Mineral: Opal Doublet

Origin: Coober Pedy, Central North, South Australia

Color: Light Blue Body Color With Red and Green Play of Color

Treatment: None (Doublet: A thin piece of Opal glued to a dark backing)

Material: Sterling Silver (925)

Pendant Approximate Dimensions: 1.1cm x 0.6cm x 0.9cm

Chain Length: 46cm (18")

Weight: 5g

10% of this purchase will be donated to The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) [AUS]

In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal. It was also said to grant invisibility if wrapped in a fresh bay leaf and held in the hand.

 Following the publication of Sir Walter Scott's Anne of Geierstein in 1829, opal acquired a less auspicious reputation. In Scott's novel, the Baroness of Arnheim wears an opal talisman with supernatural powers. When a drop of holy water falls on the talisman, the opal turns into a colorless stone and the Baroness dies soon thereafter.

Due to the popularity of Scott's novel, people began to associate opals with bad luck and death. Within a year of the publishing of Scott's novel in April 1829, the sale of opals in Europe dropped by 50%, and remained low for the next 20 years or so.

Color may vary in images and videos due to different lightings and angles.