Featured synthetic, triplet or doublet

Cant really add anything,just wanted to share my opal I traded a painting for. Unfortunately,since I wear it daily,its gotten a few flea bites but why have it and not enjoy it?I love Charlies ring,and those shell ones are amazing!

 

@charlie cheswick, maybe some moisture got in between the layers of yours, that makes them a bit cloudy. It doesn't look bad though, I can't see it on the pictures.

 

Exactly. And it is gorgeous!

Did you see this thread:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/little-trick-for-improving-look-of-a-crazes-cracked-opal.26495/

 

makes me realise mine is definetly a triplet

nothing wrong with a guy wearing an opal either, in my opinion

 

Not at all. In Indonesia it was once the gemstone of kings.

 

I did,but not the 2nd part.Interesting. I was going to talk to my moms jeweler about fixing it,at least now I wont sound completely ignorant.

 

Nice doublets on "ironstone" backing.

 

So that's what the slugs are.

 

Hard to tell what it is from the photos,but it looks like a matrix opal.

 

Since we're talking opals, here's my favorite (and best) one:



It's a solid, natural stone from Australia, hand selected by the person who gave it to me. He also designed the setting, which is 18K yellow gold.

Years ago, I wore it to an event at the Australian Embassy in DC, and just about every other person there stopped me and commented on it. (As in, "That MUST be Australian! It is, isn't it?")

 

Love all in it!

 

See Justin's videos for drooling and lean a lot about opals
This one is about lab opals...

 

That is a perfect explanation on what to look for.

I caught the opal bug while living in Australia. As a result we have opals scattered around the house, we even use some rocks with opals as bookends.
Here is some of my opal jewellery:
An Australian harlequin opal ring made for my mother from my grandparents' wedding rings, it was made so both their names and the date are still seen on the inside:

It has extreme flashes of colour and pattern changes with every little move you make. What looks like scratches are actually natural turquoise-coloured lines which are impossible to photograph. You can see them faintly in the next one, the ring is the other way around:


The Australian earrings she wore with them, the hooks were put on for me.


A ring with old Kalimaya chameleon opals from a discontinued mine in Banten, West Java, Indonesia. The background colour of chameleon opals changes slightly under different circumstances, hence the name. These ones go from milky white to creamy yellow and to a light tea colour.
The surrounding stones are Ceylon sapphires.

 

WOW!!! Your mother ring is a treasure!
What a wonderful idea to use your grand parents rings keeping the inscriptions still visible

 

It is.
Would you believe, I never wear it. The shape of the stone just doesn't look good on me, it always slides too much to one side or to the other and looks odd. But I'll never get rid of it for sentimental reasons. I do take it out regularly, just to admire it and remember them all.

 

Now I HAVE to have chameleon opals ! I love that yellow color!

 

I know! Kalimaya Chameleons are extremely rare, this was a chance find.
It is also getting more difficult to get real Kalimaya opals. Ethiopian Welo opals are now treated and sold as Kalimaya.
A beautiful alternative to Chameleon opals are Kalimaya tea opals, the colour of tea:

(not mine)

 

OMG thats fabulous !!Drool,drool !

 

Interesting and rather extensive IMHO link about all opals
https://www.gemsociety.org/article/opal-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/