CRAFTS AND STONE
CollectionsOpal
Room III · Collection
Opal is hydrated silica, valued for play-of-colour: flashes of spectral colour that shift as the stone moves, created as light is diffracted by microscopic spheres of silica inside it.
Ethiopian Black Opal5 ct · Oval cabochon · Ethiopia · $100Rs 27,700Living with opal
At 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than most gemstones, and it rewards careful wear and storage, away from knocks, sudden temperature changes and prolonged dryness. Some opal, including much of the material from Ethiopia, is hydrophane: it absorbs water and can look different while wet, so it should not be soaked or cleaned with liquids.
Opal is the traditional birthstone for October.
In this room
Origin and treatment written down for every piece
Born in October?
Opal is the birthstone for October. See what it has traditionally meant, and the October set we make in sterling silver.
NOT READY TO BUY SIGHT UNSEEN?
See it for yourself first. Book a viewing at our Islamabad office, or send us a question about any piece and we’ll answer it properly.