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

While I was looking at this pendant on a sterling chain, the store manager came over and asked what I had found. (She hates it when I find something she overlooked and didn't price right.) She saw the sterling mark on my phone magnifier, and she grabbed it and said she was going to take it back because it wasn't priced right. I told her that that wasn't fair. She immediately relented realizing that she had not taken the time to look it over, and I had. So mine fair and square. My question to you all is what kind of bargain did I get for $8.

In researching the L S Peterson company whose mark, I found, was in existence from 1940 - 1975 (see story below*). It is also marked Sterling. Apparently, they used real stones to make their jewelry. I think this is a real opal, but I am looking for opinions. A very similar piece with a different stone is being sold here:

Nephrite Jade Tri-colored Gold & Sterling Jewelry Set LS - Etsy

This site claims the leaves are black hills gold. The volunteer behind the counter who was looking at it with was telling me she lived there for years and said the same thing - black hills tri colored gold. I am a failure at testing, so I need your thoughts on the gold thing too.

The pendant is 1 1/2" long and the chain is a total of 18 inches.

The LS Peterson Co Story

"The history of the L.S.P. jewelry brand began nearly ninety years ago in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Founded by a partnership between Henry A. Peterson and Lester S. Peterson “L.S. Peterson Co Inc” began its activity in the late 1930s. According to all sources, the company began operations at least in 1939. Thus, the Official Gazette of the US Patent Office registered a patent for a bracelet made by the company in 1940. In addition, company managers took part in hearings on the use of silver for war purposes in the US Congress in 1941.
The company made jewelry from silver and gold using natural stones – moss agate, turquoise, tiger’s eye, quartz, hematite and others. The marking on the back side of each decoration includes initials “LSP Co” and “sterling”, or gold purity. The local Navajo silversmiths hired by the company worked in accordance with the creative traditions of Native Americans.
In 1975, Ronald W. Bolivar took over the business and renamed the company to RWB." Source Kaleidoscope Effect

So opal or not. Gold or gold plated? Please help.

 

I think the Etsy match you found is a good starting point. I have heard the tri-colored section called Black Hills gold before, so may be be correct.

Can't help with whether that is an opal or not. Hopefully others will have thoughts.

One tip -- I always try to be extremely discrete when looking up signatures, especially if in the presence of someone pricing the items. I'm glad the manager relented! Only fair.

 

Thank you about the gold. I was surprised there was no gold mark though. The manager and I are on good terms, because I go there every day. She is always moving around the shop, adding, adjusting, dusting - she is very intense. There is a volunteer with a good eye, so I consult with her on jewelry. We were huddling. It was natural for the manager to come over. Usually, she just lets it go when I find something though she will quiz me on what I find. She gets a lot of nice things that go for substantial money. I just like telling stories.

 

I think genuine opal, just not a very good one, now very cracked.

Where was LSP located that they started in MA but ended up using Navajo silversmiths? The ornamentation looks like a very shoddy imitation of Black Hills gold work, which is made in Sioux, not Navajo lands.

https://blackhillsgoldhistory.com/

 

All good points. I saw the fissures right away. I had hoped it was an opal. LS Peterson made costume jewelry, so I wasn't expecting much. A good opal of that size would have been very expensive.

Excellent points about the silversmiths. Let me see if there is more history somewhere.

 

At the time the piece was made,it would have been illegal to add a gold mark to it.The opal is very crazed probably do to being exposed to too much heat.Some opals tend to craze do the the water content of the stone.

 

Thanks for the insight into why the opal has those cracks. I had no idea that heat was an issue. Very interesting. I'm glad to hear your comments about the gold. I have found a couple of dozen similar pieces that all call it blank hills gold. Ages ago when I went there I couldn't afford a piece of jewelry with black hills gold. It would be terrific to think I finally got some even if us just a small bit. But really only because of you and the other members here who so graciously share their knowledge would I have even looked at this piece in the first place. So thank you.

 

That's a lovely piece and good eyes on you for finding the sterling marks!!! It does look like some opal fire in the last two pictures in it, but can/does opal "shatter/crackle" like that?? Sure hope it's gold contrasting!!!!

 

@Hollyblue explained the crackle - see above. It is heat. I am almost positive it is gold as many divergent sources say they used black hills gold. Because you can't see the cracks from afar no one will notice it when I wear it.

 

Cracking/crazing info.......... https://www.opalauctions.com/learn/...e-difference-with-crazing-to-crack-in-an-opal

 

They used gold but not much. Some gemstone folks call opals with little to no fire "potch" opal or opal matrix. It comes in all sorts of colors.

 

Looks like I should be very careful when handling this piece. The Opticon instructions were very clear, not that I would attempt such a thing, but certainly a way to fix it if you removed the stone.

 

I didn't think it was very much. Just a thin layer of gold. @Hollyblue post talks about potch opals too. Thank you.

 

Great info!!! And I wound up ogling the black opals for sale....O M G ....THEY are SO GORGEOUS!!!!!!

 

Potch is an Opal precursor and used by miners as an indicator to the presence of proper Opal. It has no fire. I don’t think this is potch, as it has some flare and colour. It’s lower quality and damaged sadly. Still nice though.

 

Beautiful pendant, Kiko. As Holly said, the opal has dried out, which caused the crazing. It is a white pinfire opal, most likely Australian.
When an opal has less water in it, it not only crazes but it also loses much of its coloured fire.

The leaves are gold through and through, and I agree they look like Black Hills gold.

They also often use that stippling on the leaves.
I do wonder though, the L.S. Peterson Company is in Massachusetts, but the gold leaves do look like Black Gold jewellery. So, were the leaves made in S. Dakota and bought by L.S.P.?

Exactly, it isn't potch, or matrix opal, those are different stones.
Matrix opal is opal in the 'mother stone', hence the word matrix (matre - mother). It is usually a brown or ochre stone with lines or spots of opal, which are often very colourful and lively.
So this opal is neither potch nor matrix, it is a white pinfire opal that has had a bit of a life.

 

Nice pendant. The gold accents appear to bring out the slight gold sparkles in the opal. I have always heard that opals are fragile and prone to cracking if not cared for properly. For instance, you must wear an opal to keep it intact. Apparently, the oils that it picks up from your skin keep it from drying. I read once that if you are putting your opal away for awhile (not wearing it), a jeweler can "pack it" in some kind of oil to keep it from drying out and cracking before it goes into the safe deposit box. That's all stuff I just heard about, but it would explain the cracking in yours.

 

Pearls can also dry out, too.

 

I love opals and always wanted one. I've seen opal material handling on some videos recommend on this site, and it was fascinating to watch.

 

OBB. Sorry I didn't respond yesterday, but the site was down. Good information about opal development. I haven't heard of potch. Amazing all the things that exist in your head.