Featured Opal? in Sterling and Gold? L S Peterson Co.

Sorry the site was down or I would have thanked you earlier for your fulsome response. Truly great answer to what this piece is!!!! A white pinfire opal from Australia. What a special thing to have. I suspect that like many jewelers of the time, they searched for interesting materials to use on developed designs. They certainly picked a fine piece here because it relies on the stone very the setting.

I guess that these black hill gold leaves were produced in South Dakota and sold to jewelry makers. When I visited South Dakota, I saw several pieces of jewelry that showcased leaves, so they are still being made.
Thanks again for identifying the opal.

 

Excellent information. So much beautiful stuff is allowed to dwell in dark drawers forgotten. I didn't know about this packing away piece for opals. I've never had one before. I plan the wear this piece carefully, so it doesn't dry out further. Thank you.

 

Gasp. I don't wear my good pearls much anymore, since I stopped working. I will have to do something about that. Thank you.

 

Grocery shopping here they come! Throw them over a plain t-shirt and look fabulous, dahling!

 

Excellent idea. I wear the same pieces again and again rather than using the good stuff. Thank you.

 

I say plain clothing is made to display crazy jewelry.

 

I agree. I wear nice brooches on denim shirts. Gives them new life!

 

My mama used to wear her pearls round the house to revive them!

 

I love that. I'll put them on now.

 

Coral and amber can also dry out.
So go ahead and be wild, wear them all and look fabulous!

 

I had on a green t-shirt yesterday. When I saw myself in the mirror I had to laugh. Thanks for the information. I can see myself now. The neighbors will all be talking about me that strange person working in her garden festooned with necklaces and bracelets.

 

Embrace the beauty!

 

Ack! I didn't know that about pearls. What happens to them if they sit in the jewelry box not worn for a long time? I love pearls and have lots of pearl jewelry but haven't worn it much since I retired.

 

They can go dull, so put them on next to your skin for a few hours.

 

I would hate that to happen to the beautiful strand I treasure.

 

hi! That is indeed 12k gold you have there in the leaves! I have the exact same ring by the same company, except for my center stone is hematite. I also collect Black Hills Gold jewelry so when I saw my ring on Poshmark- I immediately snatched it up! I scratch tested the silver and the gold leaves using a black testing stone and testing acid. It disappeared under 14k and held strong for 10k, leading me to believe it is 12k (which also happens to be the standard karat gold Black Hills jewelry uses! ) So, Yay congrats on a beautiful find!!

 

Very Jackie O.

 

Bit late to the game here but as a hobby opal cutter I'm going to go out on a limb and say they are not modern cracks. The whiteness of the webbing suggests to me they cracked sixty million years ago and the cracks refilled with white common opal (potch). There is a name for that but I'm stuffed if I can remember it. Anyway there should be nothing to worry about as the potch glued it back together.
As for long term reliability about one in ten to fifteen might develop a crack after ten years or so but data is hard to find on the subject. Most cracking is caused by bumping against hard surfaces or thermal cycling i.e. hot inside the house, cold outside the house on your way to shopping etc. Note- this is for Australian opals which are almost all sedimentary and don't absorb moisture unlike volcanic opals from generally the rest of the world that crack like crazy.

 

Great information, Misc.

Note to self: opals from the rest of the world crack like crazy.

 

Me, I'm just cracked. Came that way. Wonder if I"m volcanic, even though I act more sedimentary. This is the first time I've seen an explanation for why some opals crack and some don't. Other than dumb luck.